Constitutional Review: YVoteNaija Queries Exclusion of Ekiti From Public Hearing

A civil society organization that is known for advocating voter’s education, electoral reform, and mass civil participation in the 2023 elections has faulted the National Assembly omission of Ekiti State of southwestern Nigeria among the States public hearing will hold in the country for the alteration of some acts and provisions of the 1999 constitution.

In a statement made available to newsmen by YVoteNaija, they maintained that “Reforms that will be backed by legislation and principles we will all collectively agree to live with should ensure the participation of all citizens.” Hence, they implored the Nigerian Senate to address the uncomfortable error and put all that is necessary in place for the success of the hearings.

The convener of the organization, Mr. Olasupo Abideen reiterated that “Democracy is as important as the air we breathe in the country, this is why it is paramount to demand the publication of the respective venues in the various geo-political zones the public hearing will hold in each state to guarantee civil participation in the decision-making process. This is one of the most important moments in the life of our democracy and everyone must be carried along.”

The organization equally charged individuals, CSO(s), and various trade organizations to troop out in numbers to participate in the process. Mr. Abideen stated further that “we cannot continue to blame the system when the opportunity to tailor the dreams of our nation and ourselves as people is before us. This is not the time to look away, it is a moment we must seize and collectively set the road map for growth and development.”

The organization maintains that a law is a law, whether is good or bad. It does not matter whether it is morally wrong or right, once it is legislated upon, it is binding on all of us. They strongly believe this is the reason every one of us must participate. According to YVoteNaija, the matters to be discussed are of public importance and laying the framework for a working democracy, they strongly advised that people should not miss such an important moment in history.

The convener in his address maintained that lawmaking is a very important business in a democracy, and the people are the custodian of the institutions, only them can hold the system and various institutions responsible and accountable. They protested against looking away as that will serve as a nod that all is well without a country.

Mr. Abideen mentioned that “people’s participation in the public hearing is one of the numerous factors to be fulfilled so that Nigeria can surge to the front line of development and take her seat in global decision making and the substance of politics is housed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the decision of who gets what and when is stated there, the law of distribution of fortunes in this country are contained in that book. Hence, it should be as sacred to us as anything else. It is our job and responsibility to protect this nation and repossess it.”

YVoteNaija said in a democracy, people can be blamed, it is not only leaders, for without people a nation can’t be regarded as one. They maintained their unshakeable position on Nigeria’s election and democracy by saying “Nigeria cannot afford to retire her prosperity in the hands of few people and citizens limiting their responsibilities to voting on election day alone. We must remain steadfast in monitoring promises, policies and demanding accountability,” Mr. Abideen said.