Politics
Olanipekun urges N’Assembly to stop constitution amendment, calls for referendum
A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Wole Olanipekun SAN, has urged the National Assembly to suspend further amendments to the 1999 Constitution.
The legal luminary said that the country required a new homegrown constitution that would genuinely reflect the collective will of Nigerians and their uniqueness, instead of another round of patchwork reform.
He said, “The National Assembly should, for the time being, stay action on the ongoing amendment or any further amendment to the 1999 Constitution.
“This constitution needs a new rebranding, a complete overhaul, a substitution altogether. It has to be a negotiated document that will pave the way for a new social order.:
Olanipekun, who spoke on Monday while delivering the 13th Convocation Lecture of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, titled “Nigeria yesterday, today and tomorrow: Imperative of a sober and definitive recalibration,” also expressed concern about the lack of ideology among the country’s politicians and the wave of defections from one political party to other.
The senior advocate said, “To calibrate our democratic system, a note of caution should be sounded against the wave of cross-carpeting from one political party to the other, soon or later, inflict implosion and explosion of their host political parties.
“Membership of a political party should not be a tea party or picnic, but a serious business.
“There should be fidelity to policies, ideas, programmes, manifestos, philosophy, principles and ideology. That is what operates in stabilised democracies in the world.”
Olanipekun urged Nigerian politicians to take a cue from President Bola Tinubu, who remained in his party, refused to defect despite being in opposition for years and built the party to winning ways.
He said, “Aside from him (Tinubu) and a few tiny minority, most politicians in Nigeria have, since 1999, been migrating and shifting grounds along political parties and divided with ease and convenience, to be liberal with them.
“Even as a sole opposition governor, he challenged and withstood the onslaught of the then party in power at the centre, the Peoples Democratic Party, and has since remained within the phylum of what is styled ‘the progressives’ in Nigeria. Several others have done otherwise”.
Olanipekun, who said Nigeria must stop parading people but strive to produce citizens, lauded Tinubu for “reintroducing the old national anthem”, adding that to reconcile the differences in the tribe and tongue in the country, “we have to be deliberate, sober and reflective and take steps that will lead to a recalibration of our country”.
Speaking on the imperatives for a new constitution, Olanipekun said that the 1999 Constitution, which he described as a “military albatross”imposed on Nigerians, without consultation or consent, had outlived its usefulness and legitimacy.
According to him, the country’s foundational challenges stemmed from a faulty constitutional structure that concentrated power at the centre, emasculated the states, and perpetuated inequality in all its entirety.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that he’s still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike’s comment followed his expulsion from the party by the faction led by National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki.
Turaki had formally dispatched expulsion certificates to 11 prominent party chieftains, including Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umaru Bature, Kamarudeen Ajibade, SAN, Abdurahman Muhammad Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.
He said their expulsion was aimed at sanitising the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the development on Friday, Wike dismissed the claim while assuring that he would continue to work with other party members in making PDP a relevant opposition party.
The minister spoke while addressing journalists after inspecting the Interchange bridge and road linking Gwarinpa with Jahi and direct to Katampe, Gishiri and Maitama.
He said, “Those that are factionalized are bound to leave the party, I’m still in PDP and you can see that not everybody has left.
“We still have good numbers and we will continue to work together and that’s what I have said to the party. Put your house in order because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that is losing.
“So those who are worried, we can work together to see how the party can remain a relevant opposition.”
The governments of Abia and Imo States have announced the launching of a joint security taskforce and surveillance along the Aba-Owerri expressway, starting from Owerrinta in Abia State all the way to Owerri, Imo State.
The launch followed recent attacks by criminals on the expressway, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
The formation of the joint security taskforce and surveillance was announced by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity.
His statement read in part: “Arising from a strategic emergency security meeting held today, 4th December, 2025, by the Governors of Abia and Imo Sates at the Imo State Government Owerri House, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti and His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma resolved to set up a joint security Taskforce that shall consist of Soldiers, Naval Personnel, Police Officers , DSS Personnel, and other Government Security Agencies.
“The joint security Taskforce shall, starting from tomorrow 5th December 2025, patrol the road 24 hours nonstop, while carrying out massive surveillance in the surrounding bushes using sophisticated drones and other modern security equipment.”
According to the statement, Governor Alex Otti commended the Governor of Imo State for arresting the criminals who carried out an attack on His advanced team and other passengers a few days ago.
“The two Governors, while assuring citizens plying the road on a daily basis and those returning home for Christmas of their safety and security, warn that there would be severe consequences for any criminal caught on the road going forward”, Ekeoma concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.
Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.
The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
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