By Seyi Babalola
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo bemoaned on Monday that the majority of those tasked with carrying out the Nigerian Constitution are weakening the country’s democracy.
An example of constitutional abuse, according to Obasanjo, is when members of the National Assembly establish their own salary, thus usurping the job of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission.
The ex-President delivered a public lecture on Monday in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, as part of festivities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Call to Bar of the legal luminary and Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN).
The talk, titled ‘The Future of Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria: The Imperative of a New Constitutional Order,’ was given by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah.
In his speech, Obasanjo stated that democracy was the preferable form of governance, but that actors needed to follow the rules in order for it to function for everyone.
“By the Nigerian Constitution, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission is supposed to fix the salaries and emoluments of members of the National Assembly, but they (lawmakers) set the constitution aside and decided to fix their salaries,” Obasanjo said.
While asking political leaders to prioritize people’ interests in all choices, the ex-President stated, “Democracy doesn’t mean anything to a man who is hungry, whose life is in danger, or whose property is being destroyed.”
