Rivers: Tinubu’s Peace Move Illegal – Clark, Condemns Demolition of Assembly Complex

By Akinwale Kasali

The 1999 Constitution has been blamed as the bane of Nigeria’s problem over the years.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Robert Clarke, said the cornerstone of Nigeria problem is the 1999 Constitution.

Clarke made this remark Tuesday on Arise TV Good Morning Show, while reacting to the truce reached between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, over the crisis rocking Rivers State. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened in the crisis, leading to the truce reached by both parties.

Said Clarke: “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 faulted Governor Fubara for demolishing the state House of Assembly complex.

He queried, “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.

On the President’s intervention Clarke asked whether the President has a constitutional role in solving sub-national matters, Clarke said that President 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.

He called for the immediate 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”.