Election Would Be A Waste Without Changes In The Constitution

As 2023 is fast approaching, citizens have been in limelight searching for the political party and candidates that would work out for them without considering the fact that the constitution is the key element to successful, visionary and good governance/ leaders.

Over the decades, the country had been experiencing acute hardship and vast failure from a government that promised a lot in the name of 'change' and failed to keep their lip-service promises. On the other hand, citizens never learnt their lessons to change their mindset and choose a well constructive concept that would suit them, bringing about the recruitments of government into offices. Election without a well defined structure is nothing, and a constitution without proper broad guidelines is nothing.

With this, It is clearly objective to state that without a review of the "constitution", nothing will change for good. Since the constitution provides for the fundamental objectives, broad guidelines for government of human society, the powers of government, functions of of individual and so forth, then if lawlessness reigns, the constitution that gives government these powers needs to be reviewed. If then a constitution is a contract between the people and the government, the question which needs to be answered is are the people in agreement on the violation of their rights?

What amounts to the gross failure of Government in Nigeria is not far fetched. The crux of the matter is powers are not properly specified or apportioned.

Moreover, a constitution of a country is made by the people in whom soverignty resides, and if this is not a mere theory, what are Nigerians waiting for without calling on referendum for positive change but chose to be interested in who will govern them either from the West , South, North or East?

In addition, without a well structured constitution, the national life and on the other hand, the personal lives of the people would be subjected to a lot of arbitrary actions from those in power, and actions of the government would be according to the whims and caprices of the rulers and their agent/ agencies. Then election would be meaningless, human rights, justice and truth will fall to the ground. The question is has Nigeria witnessed any tyrannical government?

At this juncture, I won't bother to ponder on this, I would like to reserve this to my dear readers but it is clearer that tyranny begins where constitutional and democratic rules end. By this virtue, if any government has failed to respect the actions of the Law Courts that protect civil liberty, human rights and vehemently protect the lives of the people, such government in one way or the other justifies itself as tyrannical. Tyrannical government is characterised by regressive economy, chaos, lawlessness, nepotism, gross violation of human rights, measurements of the press, unwarranted arrests, rigging of elections and lots more and the thereby, the people will enjoy maximum hardship they applied for.

Sadly, many of the citizens still sing songs of praises to men in the realm of power. Instead of motivating them by ‘words of constructive criticism’, they have only succeeded in exalting them and motivating others to sell their birth rights 'votes' for government and its agents.

lnfact, I have never seen a place where citizens cry for help, blame and criticise government without positive response but in turn collect some palliatives to keep the government in power and thereby expecting best from them. It is disheartening that people have long thrown away their rights, soverignty and shame for food and positions making many victims of the predicament of modern day Nigeria.

"It is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that two wrongs don't make a right" and choosing the best alternatives between the twos' won't give best solution to the laid down predicament of the country.

Indisputably, bad government is not a global menace, and electoral malpractice is not world wide. It is caused by the structure and system of government which produces those types of economy and rulers.

Since the people made them rulers, the people shall be held responsible for the misconduct of government and on the other hand, the government is not left behind to be blame. they will pay in prices for their misconducts.

I believe that Nigerians which constitute the Government of the Federation could tackle the general problems associated with electoral rigging, failed government and lawlessness if the Constitution, the Electoral act, and provisions of the state directive principle and so forth are reviewed by the people themselves, with the inclusion of proper electronic voting and transmission of votes. It would surely serve as a remedy to treat the ills of the country

Lastly, Nigerians should take solace in the state of the economy, avoid any form of material voting system, demand a brand new constitution before election.

Without these, we shall see what true democracy is and only time will tell.