Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has lambasted Nigerian ‘rulers’ over the insecurity that is plaguing the country.

In a statement made available to Newsmen the distinguished silk said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) has already spelt out the primary purpose of government. He referred to sections 13 and 14 thereof.

He said, “Honestly Nigerian rulers pre-occupied themselves with ethics debates and politics instead of governance. I do not know why we find ourselves in this mess.

The 1999 constitution as amended has set out what should be done and the primary purpose of government.

“Sections 13 and 14 of the 1999 constitution as amended are clear in import and obligations of government. The sections read thus:

“13. It shall be the duty and responsibility of all organs of government, and of all authorities and persons, exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers, to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of this Chapter of this Constitution.

“14. (1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.
(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:
(a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority;
(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and
(c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
(3) The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.
(4) The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation.”

He said the above provisions have been violated by politicians leading to insecurity and nepotism. According to him, even the call for amendments are as a result of the failure to abide by the provisions of the current constitution

“Clearly the insecurity we see today, nepotism and sectionalism and all sectional arguments by the highly placed government functionaries both at Federal and state levels are direct product of total insubordination to the letter and spirit of the constitution.

“There is complete absence of sanction.

How did we find ourselves here? The clamour for constitutional amendments and all the agitations are direct product of failure to respect even the current constitution and our laws.” he said

He then asked, “Why do we have lopsided appointments.

Why should the policy and programme of government not tailored towards the economic objectives of the State?

Why do we have ethic jingoistic and apologists in power.”

He called on government to be born again for peace to reign in Nigeria.

He said, “The cumulative effect of the insatiable appetite of those in power not to do what is right and think out and follow through people’s oriented programme has produced the deserterous consequences we are in now.

Government needs to be born again for peace to reign in Nigeria.”