Dr Tunji Abayomi, a constitutional lawyer and panellist at the National Constitutional Dialogue, has lamented the 1999 national constitution, saying it denies minority Nigerians their rights.
Following the “National Dialogue on the Future of Nigeria” colloquium on Monday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos State, Abayomi made this revelation.
The attorney, who appeared on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Tuesday, said that the constitution is anti-people and that a quick revision is necessary for the good of Nigerians.
According to him:
“If we enhance the concept of ‘Nigerianity’. We can build a great nation. There’s no country without minority sects, but the law takes care of them. Every nation, to a certain extent, is diverse, but the individuals are taken care of by the law.
“Once you have a law that protects the rights of citizens, you don’t have to worry about the minority. The whole essence of the commissions is to ensure the protection of the citizens.
“The problem we have in Nigeria today is that we don’t have a constitution of the people. A constitution where a minority will say that these are the issues that are troubling us.”
cc: Punch Ng
