Ayo Adebanjo: Time’s Up for Post-1966 Coup Military Constitution

*Restructured constitution, true federalism will birth peace

Ugo Aliogo

Elder statesman and leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has stated that time was up for the post-1966 coup military constitution and until Nigeria’s constitution is restructured to reflect true federalism as done in the US, India and others, the country would never get peace.

Adebanjo who stated that a lot of people don’t appreciate the benefits of restructuring expressed this position in Lagos, weekend, during the book presentation of: “Policing the Nigeria Police,” written by the former Chairman Nigeria Police Service Commission, Dr. Simon Okeke.
According to the elder nationalist, true federalism is not based on the principles of segregating a section of the country, while pretending you are practicing the concept of ‘One Nigeria.’

He also stated that if Nigeria must move forward and that there is need to change the constitution, holding that the constitution is a military constitution imposed on Nigerians after the military coup of 1966.
He disclosed that bulk of the problems facing the country today are contained in that constitution, which he said was made to suit a section of the country to the detriment of the others

Speaking on the need for State Police he held that if the federal government is committed to tackling the issue of insecurity in the country, there was need for full implementation of State Police, adding that no state government can get adequate security if the institution controlling in the security architecture does not reside in the state.

He remarked that the reason why Afenifere took a strong stance in supporting the candidature of Peter Obi in the presidential election was purely a matter of principle and Obi’s desire to change the system of corruption.

According to him, “I want to implore young Nigerians not to put their hope on the present set of leaders we have in the country. It is only those who are bearing the name Peter Obi that you should put your hope on because they are your leaders, while All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wants to change the personnel of corruption.

“But Obi wants to change the system of corruption. There is a distinction between the two narratives. You don’t understand the passion I have for Nigeria because you don’t take part in the struggle to fight for the independence of this country.
“If we want to leave this country for posterity and ensure that the youth take part in the scheme of things, and women get involved in the politics, you need to change the constitution to true federalism.

“I have always said that if we are sincere in keeping this country together, we have to practice true federalism in the way it is done across the world. The popular criticism against state police is that the state governors will begin to use it against their opponents.

“Why are you deceiving yourself? Is the federal government not using the police force against the states that do not belong to its party? State Police is a component of a federal system. You can never get security in this country, how can someone who is miles away be the one controlling your security architecture.
“How can someone living in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja say he can provide security for people living in Anambra State, when he doesn’t live in that territory and does not understand what happens in the area?”  

On his part, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, charged every Nigerians to play a part in bringing about a new Nigeria, stating that it is disheartening that “I remember a story that Ike Nwachukwu that told me that his security vote while he was in office was less than N10,000 and he was meant to account for it.

“But today, those of us in politics are stealing money without accountability. It is very sad that we are allowed to go through that freely, and some people have turned the country into gigantic criminal enterprise and nobody is questioning us.

“Please put Nigeria into your prayers, and always pray that those of us who are politicians will use public money for public good.”