Nigeria’s constitution must be amended to address agitations – Ex-rep

A former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rural Development, Hon Oladipupo Adebutu, has called for urgent constitution review to address agitations for secession, insecurity and other challenges bedeviling the country.

Hon Adebutu who is a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former governorship aspirant in Ogun State, stated this at the weekend while speaking with newsmen at his residence in Iperu-Remo on the sidelines of the third Annual Ramadan Lecture and Iftar organised by Lado Muslim Affairs Forum.

The ex-lawmaker noted that agitations by various groups, killings and kidnapping had shown that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government had failed woefully.

“We must rejig it (constitution). It is terrible as it is. Yes, there can be some discussions at the National Assembly, but I truly believe it goes beyond the National Assembly. This is a fundamental stakeholders’ issue.

“It is a very germane issue that goes to the root of the society; it goes beyond the National Assembly. I also believe it should be all encompassing, far and beyond just elected members of the National Assembly. I believe that is the way forward.

“You can see agitations when a government is not too caring, when a government has failed woefully, it becomes too obvious that constitution needs review; that is why in more advanced societies, you find there are constitutional amendments.”