Sagay calls for adoption of 1963 republican charter

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay, has called for the adoption of the 1963 Republican Constitution, just as he suggested the scraping of the present Constitution.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria made the recommendation on Monday when he featured on Channels Television Politics Today.

He explained that the 1963 Republican Constitution addresses everything that is being agitated for in the country and can help halt the turmoil that has rocked the nation.

“If we had that, with amendments here and there to make it accommodate states rather than regions which we used to have, I think all these agitations will die down and everybody will be happy,” he added.

Sagay noted the report of the Nasir El-Rufai led All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on Restructuring, adding that the committee came up with an excellent report, stressing the need to look at the content of the documents and implement them.

The senior advocate was, however, of the opinion that it would be better to implement the report in a totally new Constitution, rather than amending the existing one which would involve lots of amendments.

He explained that the move by the APC to set up such a committee in the first instance was indicative that President Muhammadu Buhari was in favour of federalism and devolution of powers.

The PACAC chairman, said, “I am personally disappointed that that excellent document is being allowed to gather dust and I think the leaders of the party should now bring it out and go to the President and say, we should now make a move to implement what we ourselves commissioned and have approved because that is what the whole country wants now.”