As a way of reworking Nigeria before any meaningful election can be held, there is the need for a new constitution which is to be worked out under an interim national government. This interim government should last for a period of 6 months after President Muhammadu Buhari`s regime.
Those were the position of the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola.
The legal icon and elder statesman said that an interim government should replace the current administration, which ends in 2023, which was the case, post Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
The then Nigerian head of state and Commander of the Nigerian Supreme Military Counsel ended his largely very controversial eight-year military regime with an interim national government headed by Late Earnest Shonekan.
The interim government was very short lived and lasted only barely 3 months and 3 weeks (from 26th of August 1993 to 17th November 1993)
Chief Babalola made this proposal in a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Monday. In his opinion, the new interim government should be in office for six months to chart a new course for Nigeria.
He stressed that the 2023 elections should be suspended until Nigeria has “a new-look peoples’ Constitution which should provide for part-time legislators and non-executive president’’.
Babalola said that members of the interim government should be drawn from all living former presidents and vice-presidents; some selected ministers and governors and delegates of prominent professional associations.
The professional associations could be the Nigeria Medical Association, Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Academic Staff Union of Universities and Civil Society Organisations.
The elder statesman noted that such delegates should be elected on zero party bases.
He said it was regrettable that the current 1999 Constitution, foisted on Nigerians by the military was no longer in tune with realities of the day.
“The same Constitution has made politics become not only very attractive, but the only lucrative business in Nigeria today.
“What this means is that any election that holds under the present scenario will end up producing transactional and recycled leaders, with no ability to turn things around,’’ he said.
The university proprietor advised that the new Constitution, which should be coordinated by the interim government, should spell out rules and regulations on improved qualifications of those contesting elections.
He added that the new Constitution should provide for part-time legislators and not full-time legislators, considering the attendant waste of resources.
“The new Constitution should also provide that there shall be no salary, but sitting allowances only for lawmakers.
“It should provide a true federal system of government, instead of the expensive presidential system of government. I suggest parliamentary system of government, with a unicameral legislature.
“The new Constitution should also provide a body at the local, state and federal levels to screen all aspirants on the sources of their wealth and means of livelihood, criminal record which includes pending suits,’’ he said.
The legal luminary added that any person that would become the president of Nigeria should not be older than 60 years of age and must have a varsity degree.
