The founder and rector of the Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, has said that any election held under the 1999 Constitution cannot produce leaders with new ideas.
He spoke yesterday at a press conference held at Ado-Ekiti University on the subject: “Nigeria’s Huge Foreign Debt and Constitution 1999-2023 in Perspective.”
Babalola said he would prefer to “just” recycle the very people who had driven Nigeria into extreme poverty, unemployment, underfunded education, insecurity and huge foreign debt.
He added that “a new constitution is imperative. Our bitter experience since 1999 has taught us that we urgently need a new constitution that sets strict conditions regarding age, academic qualifications, character and personality, contribution to the community at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as the family. background of candidates for president and national assemblies.
Couple found dead in Kano after inhaling coal smoke
United, FCT will spend more than N11.5tr in 2023
“Unless a new constitution similar to the 1960 and 1963 constitutions is established with the necessary amendments, none of the contenders and, indeed, no angel can save the country from total collapse.”
Babalola said that any Nigerian who aspires to rule Nigeria in any way should be concerned that the country is so heavily in debt.
“I think that in addition to the new constitution, the huge debt must be an urgent issue that must be addressed,” he added.
