Ozekhome says 1999 Constitution a ‘curse’, calls for people-oriented national charter

Constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, has asserted that continuous amendments to the 1999 Constitution cannot resolve Nigeria’s deep-rooted political, economic, and security challenges, describing the document as a “curse” on national development.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday night, Ozekhome insisted that only the adoption of a brand-new, people-driven constitution can reposition Nigeria on the path of progress.

“What we need is a brand-new constitution that is people-driven,” he said. “You can’t amend a bad document. A document that is already afflicted with an ailment cannot be amended.”

Using a metaphor, he likened attempts to amend the current constitution to renovating a structurally unsound building. “If you have a problem in your house, the building is cracking, how do you solve it? Some people say, ‘Let’s amend the present constitution.’ Amendment, one million times, cannot solve the problem,” he stated.

Ozekhome argued that the 1999 Constitution, handed down by the military without popular consent, entrenched the over-centralisation of power in Abuja, thereby stifling regional autonomy and development. “It was imposed on us by a military government. We need a people’s constitution that truly reflects our wishes,” he said.

He described the over-dependence of states on federal allocations as a direct consequence of the centralised governance model. “No state is producing; every state is relying on Abuja. Abuja has become too centralised and powerful, that is why everybody goes there,” he lamented.

The SAN also criticised the current presidential system of government, modelled after the United States, for being “too expensive” and “unsustainable.”

“We use about 70 to 80 percent of our national budget for recurrent expenditure and debt servicing, leaving only 20 to 30 percent for capital projects. That cannot lead us anywhere,” Ozekhome said.

He advocated for a return to the parliamentary system of government practiced before the 1966 military coup, arguing that it is more efficient, cost-effective, and better suited for Nigeria’s socio-political context.

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“A parliamentary system is less expensive but more effective. Under that system, it is the political party that campaigns, not individuals needing trillions in 2027 to contest as president or governor,” he explained.

Ozekhome said such a system would allow regions to control their resources and internal security, fostering job creation, economic productivity, and localised responses to insecurity.

“It brings more money to the table, it creates jobs, and most importantly, it helps security. Once people control their local security and resources, insecurity will vanish. It’s not rocket science,” he noted.

He maintained that efforts to reform the current constitution are tantamount to patching a crumbling structure rather than rebuilding it from the foundation. “Don’t invite someone to patch the cracks. You tear it down and build afresh,” he said.

The constitutional lawyer added that a new constitution would provide a framework to tackle critical issues such as poverty, food insecurity, and rising violence.

“Once power is devolved, people will feel responsible and empowered to manage their affairs. That translates into development,” he said.

Ozekhome also condemned the resistance to restructuring by vested political interests, whom he accused of hoarding central power for selfish gain. “They will say, ‘No restructuring, no local government autonomy,’ because the power rests at the centre. This greed for central power is killing the country,” he asserted.

He further proposed that even within a restructured federal system where regions have their own constitutions, national unity could be preserved through equal representation in a parliamentary model.

In a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu, Ozekhome called on the administration to spearhead the push for a new constitution, citing the President’s history of advocacy for structural reforms.

“Tinubu knows that a new constitution will solve our problems. In the past, he was one of us crusading for a people’s constitution, and if he does, he will be remembered in history more than for any other achievement during his tenure,” he concluded.

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