The Ijaw National Congress is urging President Bola Tinubu to restore Nigeria’s 1963 constitution, drawing parallels with his recent decision to revert to the country’s former national anthem.
President Bola enacted the Old National Anthem Bill, officially reinstating ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ as the national anthem and replacing the previous anthem, ‘Arise O Compatriots’, On Wednesday.
Lillian Williams, a British national residing in Nigeria at the time, penned the lyrics to the original national anthem prior to the country’s independence in 1960.
It (old national anthem) was used between the 1960s and 1978.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday, Chief Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, the National Publicity Secretary of INC, commended the President for reverting to the anthem.
He said, “The Ijaw National Congress Worldwide, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the ljaw nation, supports the reverting to the old National Anthem. It is a welcome development.
“We believe that it’s a bold step by the President, Senator Ahmed Tinubu, to correct most of the wrongs by the military junta.”
He, however, urged Tinubu to extend this initiative to the 1963 constitution, which had a parliamentary system of government.
According to the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ijaw people, the 1999 Constitution currently being in use was “rudely and forcibly” introduced to Nigerians to enslave the people.
The group urged the President to take urgent steps in reverting to the 1963 constitution to avert imminent anarchy.
He said, “We strongly believe that in the nearest time, there will be a call for the abolition of the 1999 Constitution, which was rudely and forcibly introduced to the Nigerian people, particularly to enslave the Niger Delta people, where their God-given resources and wealth are taken away.
“We call for the reintroduction of the 1963 constitution, where states are empowered to totally control their resources and pay tax to the Federal Government. We have deviated from these ideal norms and derailed them. All constitutions after 1963 should be abolished. Nobody changes a winning team.”
Speaking further, he said, “The 1963 constitution was winning, where the minorities and the majorities were carried along respectively, free of oppression of the minority. All the recognised regions were carried along.
“We can revert and take the right route instead of continuing en route to lead us to doom. It’s never too late to correct our mistakes instead of continuing with these mistakes.
“The INC calls for the speedy restructuring of the country and bringing to the people the reality of the renewed hope as promised by the President. The suffering of the common people is unbearable. This may lead to anarchy if not resolved urgently. A stitch in time saves nine.”
Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Tolu Babaleye, echoed the Ijaw National Congress’s position, arguing that reverting to the 1963 constitution would bring about enhanced stability, reduced insecurity, and more equitable development in the country.
Lawyer Tolu stressed that the Niger Delta’s lack of resource control would be addressed by a constitutional change, which would also strengthen the 36 states’ autonomy.
He said, “The President should do everything good to take Nigeria back to the way it was in 1963 by restructuring the country back to regionalism.
“If he does this, it will strengthen the states so that the states will be able to control their resources. They will stop the process of coming to Abuja to take money monthly; rather it will be the state that will give part of what they have earned to the Federal Government.”
Speaking further, he said, “If there is restructuring, issues of insecurity will be reduced. Also, the issues of using the money of some states to develop others will stop.”
