Constitution Review Committee Becoming Waste Of Time – Bayelsa Gov Diri

By Ayodele Oni

Bayelsa State Governor, Douoye Diri has observed what he called “endless process of reviewing the 1999 Nigerian constitution,” calling for an end to the exercise.

The Governor noted that the exercise was fast becoming a waste of time and resources since recommendations from such processes were not being implemented.

Diri told members of the Committee in Government House, Yenagoa, at the weekend that between 2015 and 2020, he was a member of the earlier National Assembly’s Constitution review committee, and faulted the none implementation of the recommendations by successive federal administrations up until now.

He accused the Federal Government of its none implementation of the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee reports, more than 10 years of such recommendations.

“I appreciate the Speaker of the House of Reps for sustaining this ritual, which I hope will come to an end one day.

“But this is not good for us as a country. We cannot be holding a Constitution review, and nothing comes out of it.

“It is becoming a waste of time and resources. I want to believe that this government has what it takes to implement the decisions that will be arrived at this time.

“I was a member of this same committee, and nothing happened. But I am hoping that the president we have today, who is a democrat, will implement the recommendations.”

He, however, expressed the hope that the government of President Bola Tinubu would ensure that the ongoing review reached a logical conclusion, insisting that for Nigeria to make progress, it must toe the line of fiscal federalism and uphold justice.

Diri restated the need for equitable distribution of the country’s resources and emphasised the injustice to Bayelsa, an oil-producing state making a huge contribution to the economy, in having only eight local government areas.

He said that for Nigeria to make progress, it must practice fiscal federalism and uphold justice.

In his words: “I thank you for choosing Bayelsa to host the zonal public hearing on the review of our constitution.

Diri pointed out that the state was in a hurry to develop and that the concerted effort of everyone in government had resulted in the steady progress of the state, and faulted those describing Bayelsa as a small state, noting that it is bigger in land mass than about nine other states in Nigeria.

“I do not agree with anybody who refers to Bayelsa as small. Bayelsa is big enough. It is injustice for Bayelsa to have only eight Local Government Areas, while others that are not as big have more.

“Let us stand for one another. This country can only develop when we operate true federalism.”

Earlier, Majority Leader and Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said his Team A, covering Edo, Bayelsa and Delta states, was in the South South zone to consult with people of the three states and hear from them on the areas that needed to change in the Constitution.

According to Ihonvbere, only a transparent and participatory process would guarantee development in Nigeria, and commended Diri’s leadership style, which he said had brought development to Bayelsa just as he is also providing leadership for the South South region of the country.

He said the Bayelsa governor left an enviable legacy at the National Assembly, and as his former colleague, they were not surprised about his performance in the State