Famouse Nigerian lawyer, Afe Babalola (SAN) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to postpone the 2023 general elections and set up an interim government.
Babalola said the interim government should be in place for six months after the expiration of President Buhari’s tenure and should draft a new constitution that is people-oriented to replace the current 1999 constitution that is currently operational in Nigeria.
According to the legal luminary, the step will give the opportunity to correct some of the challenges such as insecurity and poor economy which Nigeria is battling with.
In his view, the presidential system of government is too expensive for Nigeria and there is a need to embrace true federalism.
The statesman also advocated a Parliamentary System of Government with a Unicameral Legislature in which the lawmakers are not paid a salary but receive sitting allowance.
He argued that if the 2023 general election is allowed to hold as planned, then the challenges facing the country will automatically continue as the same crop of leaders will be recycled.
In his view, anyone that would become Nigeria’s president should not be more than 60 years of age and should have a minimum educational qualification of a University degree.
Babalola made the statement at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.
He said: “To save Nigeria from nose-diving into irretrievable bankruptcy and poverty, irreparable economic and political damage brought about by the 1999 constitution and its beneficiaries, a new constitution is imperative before any election.”
“I, therefore, strongly advocate that we should postpone the 2023 elections until the Interim Government put in place after the expiration of Buhari’s government has put in place a new truly People’s Constitution.”
He said some of the provisions of the new constitution should be part-time legislators and an electoral process that will encourage the emergence of bright minds and not just money-bag politicians.
“No election under this constitution will bring about young men, brilliant and intelligent Nigerians who want to serve without taking money,” he said.
“The new constitution should provide for part-time legislators and not full-time legislators where there shall be no salary, but sitting allowances only,” he said.
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