LFormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria’s challenges do not stem from its constitution but from those entrusted with its implementation.
Gatekeepers News reports that Obasanjo made the statement on Wednesday at the opening of a three-day national summit on the future of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy—organised by The Patriots in collaboration with the Nigeria Political Summit Group in Abuja.
Obasanjo, through a speech read by Olawale Okunniyi, secretary-general of Eminent Patriots, acknowledged the constitution’s imperfections but emphasised that it can drive good governance if properly applied.
He noted that constitutions are meant to reflect the history and aspirations of a people, but even the best charters can be undermined by those operating them.
The former President said, “ The best constitution can be perverted and distorted by the operators, and we have experienced that all over Africa; Nigeria is not exempted.”
The former president stressed that leadership behaviour, not the document itself, is at the heart of Nigeria’s struggles. Without reforming those in charge, he warned, Nigerians will continue to suffer due to selfishness, corruption, and impunity.
He said, “ No matter what you do to the Nigerian constitution, if the operators of the constitution, for the past one decade and a half, remain unchanged and continue in the same manner, the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians will continue to be sacrificed on the altar of selfishness.”
Obasanjo urged renewed focus on the character and conduct of those who operate the constitution, calling for integrity, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law.
