Tear Down 1999 Constitution And Build A Great Nation – Bakare Tells Buhari

A file photo of Pastor Tunde Bakare

Pastor Tunde Bakare has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to do away with the 1999 constitution, saying it is a great inhibitor of the nation’s progress.

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), made the call on Sunday during a state of the nation address which he titled: ‘The black box of Nigeria’s politics’.

He said, “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Mr. Gorbachev eventually did, and Germany is better off for it today.

“In the same spirit, I say to President Muhammadu Buhari: Mr President, stop passing the buck to the National Assembly. Tear down this inhibiting concoction of a constitution; tear it down so we can build a truly great nation”.

According to the founding pastor of the CGCC, “This is one enduring legacy” that the Buhari-led administration can still secure before their time in power draws to a close.

Bakare further argued that if President Buhari does thrash the 1999 constitution, then, present and unborn generations of Nigerians will remember him for it and write his name in gold when the history of the period is written.

On the other hand, he stated that if the president fails to heed the call, then, “history will record that you failed to rise to the occasion and squandered a great opportunity”.

Throwing more light on the need to get rid of the 1999 constitution, Pastor Bakare asserted that the constitution was erroneous to say the unity of the nation was not negotiable.

“The 1999 Constitution was imposed upon the nation by the military and has completely removed the ancient landmark set by our founding fathers in the 1960 Independence Constitution and the subsequent 1963 Republican Constitution respectively.

“For every contractual agreement, the parties are required to sign a document validating the terms and conditions in the reckoning of the law. In the case of Nigeria, our founding fathers, in effect, signed a contract in 1960 detailing the terms and conditions of our union or unity following a series of negotiations.

“Truth be told, the majority of the champions, promoters and supporters of the ‘our unity is non-negotiable’ slogan pay lip service to a version of unity that serves their selfish interests. What they are insisting on, in reality, is that ‘our disunity is non-negotiable,’ and that we must be forced to live together irrespective of the inherent dysfunctionality of the terms and conditions,” Bakare submitted.

He also was of the opinion that a change of guard in the country has become pertinent, adding that the country needs fresh hands and insights into how to fix the problems of Nigeria.

“Everyone looks tired around the President and we need a change of guards to bring competent people to handle critical issues. I’m not advocating coup d’etat, God forbid; that will set us back by many years again. Military coup landed us in the trouble we are,” the cleric enunciated.

He went on to announce the launch of “Nigeria for Nigerians (N4N) Movement”.

In his viewpoint, the movement became imperative because it is time for Nigerians to take the reins and direct their nation’s destiny.

Wading into the zoning discuss, Bakare said it does not matter what region the next president comes from, adding that all that is required is that the individual be qualified and competent to handle Nigeria’s affairs.