Chief Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) says the 1999 Constitution will not guarantee the emergence of credible leaders at the February general elections.
He said Unless a new Constitution similar to those of 1960 and the 1963 Constitutions, with necessary amendments is put in place, none of the aspirants and indeed no angel can save Nigeria from total collapseand urged the Federal Government to suspend the 2023 general elections and raise an interim government of six months that will fashion out a new Constitution for the country.
He was reacting to the adoption of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The elder statesman noted that only a moneybag and not the best-qualified candidates could win the February presidential election under the present constitutional arrangement.
He said that the LP presidential candidate’s adoption by former President Obasanjo was his right of expression and might be a result of the contestant’s acclaimed untainted records of character and sound education.
He stressed that the 1999 Constitution was too lopsided and faulty to produce the type of change agent and developmental leader Obasanjo had in mind and The new Constitution should provide for stringent conditions in respect of age, academic qualifications, character and personality, as well as the family background of candidates especially for the presidency and the National Assembly. DAILY TRUST
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