Prioritizing Electoral Reform And Power Devolution In The Constitution, Nigeria Needs Not Only Have A Large Population But Also A Large Development ~ Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna Central, stated that the process of amending the constitution should give priority to devolution of power and electoral reform. Sani made this claim on Sunday during an interview in Lagos. The legislator from Kaduna bemoaned the fact that attempts to change the constitution have always been thwarted by political interests. He continued by saying that political leaders’ interests typically prevent developmental issues from being given priority during the process of amending the constitution. Shehu stated, “Since 1999, the Nigerian National Assembly has established committees to modify the country’s constitution; however, the challenge has been that the matters that are supposed to be amended are not amended because of interests.

“Each time, we have this committee set up, the committee is inaugurated in good time, but the recommendations are hardly implemented.

“Take, for example, electoral reform, no president in Nigeria wants to reform an electoral system that will take him out of power.”

He advised political officeholders to implement reforms and vision that would outlive them, noting that “power is transient.”

“If you think you are in a position of authority today and you have all the power to exercise, think of what happens to you tomorrow,” Shehu concluded.