By WALTER UKAEGBU
Friday, April 28, 2006

Aniebonam, who spoke in Lagos, explained that most Nigerians want some aspects of the constitution amended as it was hurriedly packaged by the military for expedient reasons.

Said he: “In the spirit of the on-going re-engineering of the Nigeria state and various sectors of the economy, there is nothing wrong in amending our constitution, which is the basic element and frame work for the on-going reforms of our national objectives, aspirations and corporate existence.”

According to him, the alleged third term agenda of some individuals is human, adding that the problem is the moral question and timing of the constitution amendment, especially as it concerns tenure of the executives and other interested parties.

“What is important for members of the National Assembly, state legislatives and other legislature shakeholders whose function it is to do thing in our country to do what they are supposed to do for the interest of our great nation and the entire people of Nigeria,” he said.

The NNPC chief stated that democracy must be practiced in such away to suit our enivronment and people without necessarily tampering with the essential characteristics of the principles of democracy and good governance.

The party enjoined Nigerians to take advantage of the proposed constitution review to address issues such as the electoral process, regional police, Niger Delta, environmental hazards, fiscal federalism and derivation.

Others includes federal character, regional government, local government matters, among others.
They also advised Nigerians to be conscious of some rich individuals who would want to take undue advantage of the various reform programmes of the government to make people believe they are working for their interest.

“Reforms are all about changes and in doing so, some people,groups and organisations would be negatively affected, “he said, while advising Nigerians to learn how to defend themselves by being politically conscious in their environment. He said that members of the National Assembly have the statutory responsibility to make laws, adding that when they act at variance with the wishes of the people, they should be recalled through due process.

This, he stated, would make them to be concious of their actions and not be a party to making a law or decision capable of portraying them in bad light before the people.