Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, has expressed his disappointment and frustration with the ongoing process of reviewing the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.
According to him, this exercise has become a recurring event without any tangible outcomes, rendering it a waste of time and resources.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted
the governor as saying that the exercise was becoming a waste of time and resources, saying every National Assembly session embarked on same process without the recommendations being implemented.
Diri, who was a member of the Constitution Review Committee when he was in the National Assembly from 2015 to 2020, lamented that successive administrations have failed to implement the committee’s recommendations.
He emphasised the need for the current Federal Government to ensure that the ongoing review reached a logical conclusion.
The governor stressed that Nigeria’s progress depended on practicing fiscal federalism and upholding justice.
Diri highlighted the injustice faced by Bayelsa State, an oil-producing state that contributes significantly to the country’s economy, yet has only eight local government areas.
He advocated for a more equitable distribution of resources, emphasising that Bayelsa was bigger in land mass than about nine other states in Nigeria.
The governor emphasised the importance of fiscal federalism, saying that Nigeria can only develop when true federalism is practiced.
He urged the Federal Government to prioritise the implementation of the review’s recommendations.
He expressed his hope that the current administration would implement the decisions arrived at during the review process.
“I thank you for choosing Bayelsa to host the zonal public hearing on the review of our constitution.
“I appreciate 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 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.”
In his remarks, the Majority Leader and Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, commended Diri’s leadership style, which has brought development to Bayelsa State.
He emphasised the importance of a transparent and participatory process in guaranteeing development in Nigeria.
Ihonvbere said that the committee’s goal was s to deepen consultations and listen to the people in their own zone, welcoming contributions in any language.
He commended the leadership style of the Bayelsa State government, which has brought development to the state.
“Let me thank you for what you are doing in Bayelsa State. Leadership is at the centre of whether a country or state moves forward.
”You left your legacy in the National Assembly and we are not surprised about the development of your state.
“Your focus and ability to prioritise the development of the people makes us proud of you. You are providing leadership for the South-South and we want to thank and encourage you to keep doing what you are doing.
“This committee represents Edo, Bayelsa and Delta. Our goal here is to deepen consultations and listen to the people in their own zone. We are open to welcome any contribution in any language.
“We believe that with a consultative and transparent approach, we will have a more robust perspective on how people see our Constitution,” Ihonvbere said.
The ongoing review process would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to make their views known and shape the future of Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
