Nigerian governors act like bandits – Mike Ozekhome

Human rights lawyer and activist, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has said that Nigerian governors run their states just as bandits wreck havoc on citizens of the country.

Ozekhome stated this at the Ladi Adebutu Good Governance Symposium in Abeokuta, Ogun state on Thursday.

“Governors like bandits always waylay council allocations from Abuja,” he said.

He accused the governors of impoverishing rural dwellers, adding that they are responsible for the underdevelopment at the grassroots.

According to the fiery lawyer, Nigeria operates under a “suffocative system” due to the 1999 Constitution, which he branded a “false document from the pit of hell,” demanding a replacement of the constitution.

Ozekhome also said that Nigeria as a nation could be divided if those in authority did nothing to change the current situation.

He said;

“I agree that Nigeria should stay together as one country, but, please, if we must be together as one country, we must re-negotiate the terms. It must be under agreed terms. That is where a constituent of people’s assembly comes up.

“The National Assembly members are afraid; they want to amend. Can you amend a bad document? Even if you give it one million amendments, it cannot solve our problems.

“Rather, let them (National Assembly) use section 4 of the constitution, which says, ‘The National Assembly shall have powers to make laws for the peace, order and good government in Nigeria and any part thereof.’ Do you have peace, order, and good government in Nigeria today?

“So, they can therefore make a law using section 4, promulgating constituents of the people. That same law provides a referendum. The National Assembly is saying it cannot give a new constitution. It can facilitate and midwife under section 4.”