Public hearing: Clamour for more states, LGs, women seats, others top constitution review

The clamour for the creation of more states, local governments, special seats for women, state police, and other demands topped the agenda on Friday at the commencement of the public hearing in the South West for the review of the 1999 constitution.

Stakeholders in the region, at the well-attended public hearing in Ikeja, called for the creation of more states, local governments, state police, and the inclusion of constitutional roles for traditional rulers.

Declaring the public hearing open in Lagos on Friday, the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged the Senate committee reviewing the constitution and participants to be guided by the principles of inclusiveness, equity, and justice in making inputs into the constitution amendment.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, listed some of the nation’s challenges as: the pursuit of genuine federalism and the devolution of powers; empowering and enhancing our local governments; establishing new states to bring governance closer to the people; reforming our electoral and judicial systems; boosting the involvement of women and youth in our political landscape; ensuring the security and welfare of our citizens, including the crucial discussion around state policing, and inclusion of constitutional roles for traditional rulers.

According to him, the issues go beyond just constitutional concerns.

“They strike at the heart of what it means to be Nigerian. It reflects our shared aspiration for a fairer, more equitable, and thriving nation,” he said.

Dwelling on the need to create more local governments in Lagos State, the governor said, “For us in Lagos State, it must be stated that we are requesting unequivocally for the listing of our 37 local government council development areas.

“They were created in 2003, about 22 years ago, with the intent of delivering dividends of democracy to the grassroots. These are children that have been given birth to, they have been nurtured, and they have grown. It will be unfair not to give them birth certificates.”

Speaking further, Sanwo-Olu stated, “We we are requesting unequivocally for the listing of our 37 local government council development areas.

“They were created in 2003, about 22 years ago, with the intent of delivering dividends of democracy to the grassroots.

“These are children that have been given birth to, they have been nurtured, and they have grown. It will be unfair not to give them birth certificates.”

Earlier, Deputy Senate President Barau Jubrin, who was represented by the Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the Senate had received hundreds of memoranda addressing key issues that had not yet been resolved by previous amendments, mainly due to lack of national consensus and the evolving dynamics of modern governance.

The public hearing was held simultaneously across the six geopolitical zones: Enugu, Kano, Jos, Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Kwara.

Traditional rulers insist on roles

As the constitution amendment process gathers pace, the traditional institution has made a strong case for inclusion in formal governance.

The Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, called for traditional rulers to be given a role in the new constitution even as he pledged that they would continue to do their best for Nigerians.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, in his submission, commended the government for seeking the input of traditional rulers in the exercise.

He also advocated for the role of traditional rulers in the constitution and expressed the readiness of traditional institutions to assist the government in meeting the people’s needs.

For his part, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Kabiru Shotobi, recalled that two years ago, traditional rulers had appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure traditional institutions are given a role in the constitution.

He urged the Senate committee on the review of the constitution to take the role of traditional rulers personally.

“You can lobby on our behalf. The role of traditional rulers is national and we must be taken care of because we do a lot on behalf of our people. We are ready to serve the people of Nigeria,” Shotobi said.

Ijebu state needed, constitution will reflect people’s wishes – Daniel

Speaking at the event, Gbenga Daniel, senator representing (Ogun East) said the constitution, when amended, would reflect the people’s wishes, adding that the president is committed to having a formidable constitution.

While making a case for the creation of Ijebu State, Daniel said the Ijebu axis of Ogun State was the only province of the old provinces that had not been made a state.

Special Seat For Women- CSOs

Abiola Afolabi, who represented civil society groups in the South West, called for affirmative action, more women’s representation in government to be included in the constitution.

She said there was the need for special reserved seats for women in the parliament, lamenting that despite the crucial role women are playing in the nation’s electoral system and the number of women in the country, they are relegated to the background.

She lamented that the country had failed to keep the 36 percent affirmative action since it was signed at the United Nations.

Also speaking, a women leader, Iyabo Ogundiran called for the overhaul of the nation’s electoral process to guarantee good governance in Nigeria, noting that the conduct of free and fair elections was the beginning of a process towards resetting the country.

She attributed the myriad of challenges facing the country to decades of poor leadership as a result of controversial and manipulated polls, stressing that it was unfair and bad for the judiciary to determine election winners in the country.

According to her, “We demand for free and fair elections, electorial system that is free and independent that is root and way towards solving our problems.

Why the judiciary determine who wins election election in Nigeria?. We want results to be sento IReV from the polling units”.