The Kwara State Coordinator of the Alliance for Credible Elections,ACE ,Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye has described the on going public hearing on the review of 1999 constitution as a charade.He said the entire process is shrouded in secrecy.
According to Otitolaye, “the so-called public hearing in each of the three hundred and sixty constituencies as a prelude to amendment of the 1999 constitution by the national assembly (NASS) is a charade, diabolical and deceptive exercise to hoodwink Nigerians into another constitutional crisis.
“The question to ask is; what is the definition of public targeted by the NASS when the whole exercise is shrouded in secrecy? Like in Kwara State, there is no public announcement as at today Wednesday 7th, November, 2012 on the so-called public hearing; not even media men have full information on it”,he added.
Read the full text of his statement below:
AMENDMENT OF 1999 CONSTITUTION: A PIGEON- HOLE ARRANGEMENT
The so-called public hearing in each of the three hundred and sixty constituencies as a prelude to amendment of the 1999 constitution by the national assembly (NASS) is a charade, diabolical and deceptive exercise to hoodwink Nigerians into another constitutional crisis.
The question to ask is; what is the definition of public targeted by the NASS when the whole exercise is shrouded in secrecy? Like in Kwara State, there is no public announcement as at today Wednesday 7th, November, 2012 on the so-called public hearing; not even media men have full information on it.
This is an attempt by the ruling clique to amend the constitution through a pigeon-hole arrangement. The outcome of such a covert exercise would be far removed from representing the wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian people on constitutional amendment. It is the very direct opposite of Open, Accountable and Transparent governance (OAT Culture).
We consider this arrangement a recycled process of nation building that has failed us since independence. You cannot do something over and over in the same way and expect a different result. The result can only be waste of state resources, waste of time and putting Nigerians on another trauma for a failed journey of nationhood.
We called on Nigerians to brace up for a genuine effort of nation building devoid of manipulation by the ruling cabal.
Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye
Kwara State Coordinator
Alliance for credible Elections (ACE)
NOTE: ACE is a coalition comprising (NLC, TUC, CAN, NSCIA, Joint Nat. Ass of Persons with Disability, United Action for Democracy etc.)
