Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Robert Clarke, has voiced strong criticism of the 1999 Constitution, describing it as the root cause of Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges. Clarke, speaking on Arise TV’s Good Morning Show, specifically pointed to issues in the constitution related to election restrictions, emphasizing that something must be wrong when certain restrictions are imposed on those eligible to vote or be voted for.
He questioned the sanity of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s decision to demolish the state House of Assembly complex in Rivers State, highlighting concerns about the governor’s actions.
In his remarks, Clarke called for a comprehensive amendment of the constitution, identifying three critical areas that need attention: the structure of local government, election processes, and the dominance of political parties. According to him, addressing these aspects would bring about positive changes and potentially eliminate court cases in the country.
These comments come against the backdrop of a political crisis in Rivers State, where a truce was seemingly reached following extensive talks involving President Bola Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and other key stakeholders. The resolution of the crisis includes the withdrawal of lawsuits related to the political turmoil and specific directives for Governor Fubara to present the 2024 appropriation bill to the full House, among other measures.
