LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) –The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has commended President Bola Tinubu for reverting to the old national anthem.
The INC is now urging the president to take a similar step with the 1963 constitution.
The INC believes the National Anthem change is a step forward in correcting the wrongs of the past and bringing stability to the country.
In an interview with PUNCH, the National Publicity Secretary of INC, Chief Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, applauded the President’s decision to revert to the old national anthem, saying it was a “welcome development” and a “bold step” towards correcting the mistakes of the military junta.
However, Oyakemeagbegha urged the President to go further by reverting to the 1963 constitution, which had a parliamentary system of government.
He described the current 1999 constitution as “a tool of oppression” that was “rudely and forcibly introduced” to Nigerians, particularly the Niger Delta people, to enslave them.
The INC believes that reverting to the 1963 constitution will empower states to control their resources and pay tax to the Federal Government, rather than relying on the current system where the Federal Government controls the resources and distributes them to the states.
He said, “The Ijaw National Congress Worldwide, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the ljaw nation, supports the reverting to the old National Anthem. It is a welcome development.
“We believe that it’s a bold step by the President, Senator Ahmed Tinubu, to correct most of the wrongs by the military junta.”
“We strongly believe that in the nearest time, there will be a call for the abolition of the 1999 Constitution, which was rudely and forcibly introduced to the Nigerian people, particularly to enslave the Niger Delta people, where their God-given resources and wealth are taken away.
“We call for the reintroduction of the 1963 constitution, where states are empowered to totally control their resources and pay tax to the Federal Government. We have deviated from these ideal norms and derailed them. All constitutions after 1963 should be abolished. Nobody changes a winning team.”
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“The 1963 constitution was winning, where the minorities and the majorities were carried along respectively, free of oppression of the minority. All the recognised regions were carried along.
“We can revert and take the right route instead of continuing en route to lead us to doom. It’s never too late to correct our mistakes instead of continuing with these mistakes.
“The INC calls for the speedy restructuring of the country and bringing to the people the reality of the renewed hope as promised by the President. The suffering of the common people is unbearable. This may lead to anarchy if not resolved urgently. A stitch in time saves nine.”
