Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Singapore Chapter has appealed to the National Assembly to uphold tenets that would further promote unity and progress of the country.
The Vice President of NIDO-Singapore chapter, Dr Jonathan Obaje, gave the advice in a phone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Obaje commended the 9th National Assembly led by Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in fostering legislative processes so far in the country.
“We appreciate the courage of Mr Lawan and Mr Gbajabiamila in publicly accepting the overwhelming defects in the unitary constitution of 1999 currently operational.
“We encourage the Senate and the House of Representatives to take a bold step in uniting our country, to help lay a strong foundation for acceptability of the outcome of the constitutional review.
“The right process is to allow Nigerians to choose by way of referendum, to review the unitary constitution of 1999 or the Federation Constitution of 1963.
“There is no amount of amendments that can change a unitary constitution to a Federation Constitution; it is an effort in futility,” he said.
He described the two National Assembly leaders as the only persons that could save Nigeria from the impending catastrophe.
The NIDO Vice-President stressed the need for the legislature to urgently pass a bill to let Nigerians chose between using framework of Unitary or Federation constitution, as foundation for constitutional review.
“This will help to quell agitations and distrust; once Nigerians have been allowed to make the choice, then meaningful review of the constitution can take place.
“There is no longer any doubt that there is the need to review security strategy, to entrench peace and meaningful progress of the country.
“Therefore, the call on Lawan and Gbajabiamila to save Nigeria now, as the last hope through adherence to tenets of legislative processes that can bring about sustainable growth,” he added. (NAN)
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