By Ben Agande
Abuja—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan said, yesterday, that the report of the Justice Alfa Belgore committee on the review of the 1999 constitution would soon be sent to the National Assembly.
The president, who stated this at the retreat held for civil society organisations as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 52nd Independence Anniversary, noted that the Federal Government was committed to delivering to Nigerians a people-oriented constitution.
PRESIDENTIAL RETREAT—From left: Vice President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan; Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and Chairman of the occasion, Justice Alfa Belgore during a Presidential retreat for civil society organisations and professional associations at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: State House.
According to the president, the retreat was to enable government engage the civil society in the constitution review process because of their tremendous knowledge on constitutional review borne out of many years of consistent effort to craft a people’s constitution for the country.
He recalled that the committee’s mandate was “to reaffirm or re-assess issues on which there is evidence of national consensus from past Constitutional Conferences; and to highlight those areas that will require further consultations so that a wider forum can look at them and reach agreements.” He noted that he had since set up a committee under the chairmanship of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to examine the report.
He added that his government believed in the rule of law and that any amendment on the constitution should be done according to its provisions.
He told members of the civil society organisations that “We have organized this retreat as part of this year’s independence anniversary because I am convinced that as we march towards our nation’s centenary which is two years away, we must take every step to enhance the foundation of our nationhood.
“We must consolidate the virtues of our common heritage, reaffirm our common destiny and indeed, collectively resolve to guarantee the greatness of our dream country.
“These cannot be realized without creating understanding and securing consensus through dialogue, and commitment to the cause of our nationhood. One instrument that has served as the ligament that holds the nation together is our national constitution.”
