John Nwodo added that the 1999 constitution is not a people-centred document but a military imposition.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has been warned of what might happen if the country is not restructured before the 2023 presidential election. 

Former president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo said the 2023 presidential election might be disrupted if the country is not restructured before then.  

In his speech at the 14th Anthony Cardinal Okogie Foundation (ACOF) annual lecture themed, ‘Whither Nigeria: Restructuring, Secession or Status Quo’, organised by Knights of St. John International and Ladies Auxiliary (KSJI), Nwodo said restructuring is needed for the unity and development of the country. 

Alleging that the 1999 constitution is not a people centred document but a military imposition that gave the north undue advantages over other federating units in the country, Nwodo also claimed that the military created a unitary system for the country to suit its command structure after the 1966 coup.  

He further pointed out that independence and post-independence constitution were anchored on regional differences, which gave each region a preference to develop along its revenue capability and needs. 

Nwodo said;  “Our expectation now is that our president, will address the situation by constituting a nationwide conversation of all ethnic nationalities to look into the 2014 national conference report and other trending views on this subject matter so as to come up with a consensus proposal.

“The present APC-led leadership and other political stakeholders must do all they can to restructure before the next election in 2023, because the level of dissatisfaction in the country as evidenced by the last ENDSARS protest gives one the impression that any delay may lead to a mass boycott or disruption of the next elections to the point that we may have a more serious constitutional crisis of a nation without a government”.

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