Nigerian Governors Are Like Bandits: Ozekhome

Human rights lawyer Mike Ozekhome says Nigerian governors are like bandits.

“Governors like bandits always waylay council allocations from Abuja,” revealed Mr Ozekhome at the 'Ladi Adebutu Good Governance Symposium' in Abeokuta on Thursday.

He accused the governors of impoverishing rural dwellers, as he held the governors responsible for the underdevelopment at the grassroots.

According to him, Nigeria operates under a “suffocative system” due to the 1999 Constitution, which he branded a “false document from the pit of hell,” demanding a replacement of the constitution.

Mr Ozekhome declared that Nigeria, as a nation, could be divided if those in authority did nothing to change the current things.

“I agree that Nigeria should stay together as one country, but, please, if we must be together as one country, we must re-negotiate the terms. It must be under agreed terms. That is where a constituent of people's assembly comes up.

“The National Assembly members are afraid; they want to amend. Can you amend a bad document? Even if you give it one million amendments, it cannot solve our problems,” he argued.

The human rights lawyer further explained, “Rather, let them (National Assembly) use section 4 of the constitution, which says, 'The National Assembly shall have powers to make laws for the peace, order and good government in Nigeria and any part thereof.' Do you have peace, order, and good government in Nigeria today?

“So, they can therefore make a law using section 4, promulgating constituents of the people. That same law provides a referendum. The National Assembly is saying it cannot give a new constitution. It can facilitate and midwife under section 4.”