The Current Insecurity Caused By Violation Of The Nigerian Constitution — J.S Okutepa, SAN

*Says Government Needs To Be Born Again For Peace To
Reign

Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has
lambasted Nigerian ‘rulers’ over the insecurity that is plaguing
the country.

In a statement made available to Nairalaw, the
distinguished silk said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) has already spelt out the primary
purpose of government. He referred to sections 13 and 14
thereof.

He said, “Honestly Nigerian rulers pre-occupied themselves with
ethics debates and politics instead of governance. I do not know
why we find ourselves in this mess.

The 1999 constitution as amended has set out what should be done
and the primary purpose of government.

“Sections 13 and 14 of the 1999 constitution as amended are
clear in import and obligations of government. The sections read
thus:

“13. It shall be the duty and responsibility of all organs of
government, and of all authorities and persons, exercising
legislative, executive or judicial powers, to conform to, observe
and apply the provisions of this Chapter of this Constitution.

“14. (1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a
State based on the principles of democracy and social
justice.
(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:
(a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom
government through this Constitution derives all its powers and
authority;
(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary
purpose of government: and
(c) the participation by the people in their government shall be
ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
(3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of
its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in
such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and
the need to promote national unity, and also to command national
loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of
persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional
groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.
(4) The composition of the Government of a State, a local
government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or
council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or
council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to
recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority
and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all
the people of the Federation.”

He said the above provisions have been violated by politicians
leading to insecurity and nepotism. According to him, even the call
for amendments are as a result of the failure to abide by the
provisions of the current constitution

“Clearly the insecurity we see today, nepotism and sectionalism
and all sectional arguments by the highly placed government
functionaries both at Federal and state levels are direct product
of total insubordination to the letter and spirit of the
constitution.

“There is complete absence of sanction.

How did we find ourselves here? The clamour for constitutional
amendments and all the agitations are direct product of failure to
respect even the current constitution and our laws.” he said

He then asked, “Why do we have lopsided appointments.

Why should the policy and programme of government not tailored
towards the economic objectives of the State?

Why do we have ethic jingoistic and apologists in power.”

He called on government to be born again for peace to reign in
Nigeria.

He said, “The cumulative effect of the insatiable appetite of
those in power not to do what is right and think out and follow
through people’s oriented programme has produced the deserterous
consequences we are in now.

Government needs to be born again for peace to reign in
Nigeria.”

*Says Government Needs To Be Born Again For Peace To
Reign

Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has
lambasted Nigerian ‘rulers’ over the insecurity that is plaguing
the country.

In a statement made available to Nairalaw, the
distinguished silk said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) has already spelt out the primary
purpose of government. He referred to sections 13 and 14
thereof.

He said, “Honestly Nigerian rulers pre-occupied themselves with
ethics debates and politics instead of governance. I do not know
why we find ourselves in this mess.

The 1999 constitution as amended has set out what should be done
and the primary purpose of government.

“Sections 13 and 14 of the 1999 constitution as amended are
clear in import and obligations of government. The sections read
thus:

“13. It shall be the duty and responsibility of all organs of
government, and of all authorities and persons, exercising
legislative, executive or judicial powers, to conform to, observe
and apply the provisions of this Chapter of this Constitution.

“14. (1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a
State based on the principles of democracy and social
justice.
(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:
(a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom
government through this Constitution derives all its powers and
authority;
(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary
purpose of government: and
(c) the participation by the people in their government shall be
ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
(3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of
its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in
such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and
the need to promote national unity, and also to command national
loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of
persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional
groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.
(4) The composition of the Government of a State, a local
government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or
council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or
council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to
recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority
and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all
the people of the Federation.”

He said the above provisions have been violated by politicians
leading to insecurity and nepotism. According to him, even the call
for amendments are as a result of the failure to abide by the
provisions of the current constitution

“Clearly the insecurity we see today, nepotism and sectionalism
and all sectional arguments by the highly placed government
functionaries both at Federal and state levels are direct product
of total insubordination to the letter and spirit of the
constitution.

“There is complete absence of sanction.

How did we find ourselves here? The clamour for constitutional
amendments and all the agitations are direct product of failure to
respect even the current constitution and our laws.” he said

He then asked, “Why do we have lopsided appointments.

Why should the policy and programme of government not tailored
towards the economic objectives of the State?

Why do we have ethic jingoistic and apologists in power.”

He called on government to be born again for peace to reign in
Nigeria.

He said, “The cumulative effect of the insatiable appetite of
those in power not to do what is right and think out and follow
through people’s oriented programme has produced the deserterous
consequences we are in now.

Government needs to be born again for peace to reign in
Nigeria.”