By Tosin Olatokunbo
Renowned Lawyer Afe Babalola has called for the cancellation of next year’s general election. The legal icon is not the first to have made such calls.
Apart from him, prominent groups such as Ilana Omo Odua and IPOB say the election must not hold until all matters regarding Nigeria’s statehood are settled.
In 1993, former military head of state Gen Ibrahim Babangida imposed an interim government on the country headed by late Chief Ernest Shonekan.
Babalola, the owner of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti, ABUAD said an interim government should replace the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
The interim government, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN said must comprise of former presidents, vice presidents, leaders of labour unions and civil society bodies in the country, and should be in office for six months to midwife “a new-look peoples’ Constitution which should provide for part-time legislators and non-executive president’’.
The elder statesman noted that such delegates should be elected on zero party basis.
He said it was regrettable that the current 1999 Constitution, foisted on Nigerians by the military was no longer in tune with the 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,’’ Babalola said.
