Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyoku, has said that the current Nigerian constitution cannot adequately address the nation’s economic predicaments and other myriad of challenges.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anyaoku spoke in his country home, Obosi village in Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambara State when he received the News Agency of Nigeria correspondent Mrs Joy Mbachi, who was on a courtesy visit to his country home.
He said that poverty, insecurity and dilapidated infrastructure, among others, are serious challenges bedeviling the country.
Anyaoku said: “I am on record for saying that these challenges cannot be effectively addressed under the constitution and governance system we have at the moment.
“We cannot effectively address these challenges that have assumed nationwide dimension, especially insecurity which has pervaded the northern part of the country and other communities.”
He stressed that the current constitution was a departure from the constitution that the nation’s founding fathers negotiated and agreed upon.
“The constitution for a pluralistic state as Nigeria, we have to return to those principles of the constitution as earlier agreed by our founding fathers.
“Until we do that, I am afraid that we cannot effectively deal with the challenges facing the nation,” he added.
Asked about the Monday sit-at-home observed in the South East region and its effects on the region’s economy, the elder statesman said the issue was causing serious damage.
He said: “The sit-at-home (order) is doing great damage to the economy of the South East region.
“I do not support the idea. I think it is doing great damage to the economy.
“We have to deal with the root cause of sit-at-home, which is the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.
“Notwithstanding the fact that the court of law had ordered his release, that word gives those who advocate and participate in sit-at-home the reason for doing so.
“I think that the cause of the sit-at-home should be addressed.
“I do not think that the sit-at-home should be maintained. It should be stopped.”
On the Ito-Ogoto, a traditional event that is celebrated in the community every three years, he observed that those who attain the age of 80 years were celebrated.
He added that the Igbo culture respects age because it is believed that age brings wisdom.