Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Robert Clarke, expressed his view on Tuesday, referring to the 1999 Constitution as the root cause of the nation’s myriad issues. Clarke made this assertion while responding to the recent intervention by President Bola Tinubu in the Rivers State crisis.
“The 1999 constitution is the cornerstone of our problems. In every area of political line, especially in the area of election, when the constitution restricts those who can come and be voted for, or who can vote for, something must be wrong with that constitution. The problem today is not what the President says,” he said while answering questions on Arise TV’s Good Morning Show.
He faulted the demolition of the state House of Assembly complex by the Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
“Why should a governor bring a caterpillar and bring down the state House of Assembly? Does that show sanity and you voted for such a person?,” he questioned.
When asked if the President has a constitutional role in solving sub-national matters, the SAN disclosed that Tinubu has no constitutional role in the matter.
“The constitutional role of the President in all these fracas, there should have been none. The only time the constitution allowed the Federal Government to put its mouth was during the First Republic,” he stated.
Clarke called for the amendment of the Constitution.
“All that we are running after today is power and money. Those two elements, where do you get them in Nigeria? They are only from politics.
“If you count down governors who have served in Nigeria since 2000, ask them to come show us their bank account, you will be shocked.
“We have to ask ourselves, is politics in Nigeria only meant for politicians? Why can’t people like us contest an election without joining a political party? Why do we need a political party? This is the problem we have in Nigeria today,” Clarke expressed.
He suggested three areas in the constitution that need amendment. The three areas, according to him are: Local government; election; who can belong to a party and why should a party be the dominant factor in elections in Nigeria.
“Once you do the three areas in Nigeria today, I can assure you, you won’t hear about any court cases. This country will move forward,” he articulated.
Reportedly, the political turmoil in Rivers State might have subsided following a truce reached on Monday night. Discussions, lasting about three hours at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, involved President Bola Tinubu, Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, former State Governor Peter Odili, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesome Wike, and other key stakeholders.
At the conclusion of the meeting on Monday night, an eight-point resolution was signed. The President directed the immediate withdrawal of all lawsuits initiated by Fubara and his team concerning the political crisis in Rivers State.
The signatories to the resolution included Fubara, his deputy Ordu, Wike, Ribadu, factional Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly Martin Amaewhule, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State Aaron Chukwuemeka, and All Progressives Congress Chairman Tony Okocha.
Per the directive, Fubara was tasked with re-presenting the 2024 appropriation bill, initially submitted to the four-member state House of Assembly, to the entire House. Additionally, the resolution mandated the immediate discontinuation of all impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara by the Rivers Assembly.
