Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, has disclosed that he had a tense encounter with former President Olusegun Obasanjo when he suggested modifying the country’s constitution during Obasanjo’s administration.
Olanipekun, who hails from Ekiti and is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had represented President Bola Tinubu before the presidential election tribunal. Speaking at the Olabisi Onabanjo University’s convocation lectures, Olanipekun criticized the 1999 constitution, referring to it as “fake,” and advocated for a complete overhaul.
He recounted how, as the NBA president in 2022, he advised Obasanjo to initiate the process of amending the constitution, but the former President rejected the advice and almost resorted to violence.
Olanipekun stressed the importance of a constitution that reflects humanity and called for the restructuring of the country.
A constitution that reflects compassion and empathy is essential. As a legal professional, I have repeatedly voiced my concerns about the authenticity of our current constitution. However, it is important to understand that lawyers and judges are bound to apply the law as it exists, rather than how it should ideally be.
Therefore, we continue to practice the law as it stands, while advocating for a comprehensive revision of the constitution. In my capacity as the president of the NBA, I led a delegation to President Obasanjo in 2022, where we faced opposition to our proposal for change. Despite the resistance, I firmly believe that this is an opportune moment to take action.
We also urge the current authorities, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to recognize the urgency of restructuring our nation. Failing to do so may result in our children abroad choosing not to return to their homeland.
