Iyi Eweka:
Thanks for your response to my contribution on the constitution. Based on
the responses generated thus far, particularly from you, my desired
intentions have been met, one of which was to provoke or generate passionate
discussions on the need amendments to our constitution. I continue to
maintain that the drafters have provided us with a skeletal framework and we
have to furnish the flesh in the form of amendments to make it workable. No
doubt there are obnoxious parts of this constitution that need urgent and
constructive attention.
I might not have the time nor the space to attend to all the numerous issues
and recriminations you have levied against me, but I shall do my best to
answer some of the charges. Beginning with your questions:
(a) "How many amendments have you suggested for the current constitution
and was turned down?"
Besides the continuos appeal to the executive--Aggo and Richard could attest
to this--that certain parts of the constitution needed urgent care, the
problems we have had in the last two years beginning with the presidential
election in which you refused to contest, and no one other that Aggo wanted
to run, to the latest issue of absentee voting and candidates, these are, in
my opinion, suggestions for amendments. These suggestions or problems
(whatever you want to call them) were presented to the general body by the
electoral committee as a collective entity; they were not my own arrogant
ideas or the ideas, according to you, of one person who thinks he "has the
right to throw our constitution aside when something like election is taking
place" (para. 2).
People I have worked with in the last two years on the electoral committees
will tell you that I do not take arbitrary decisions, nor do I force anyone
to accept my ideas. Whenever there was a contrary view, we voted on it and
what came out to the general body was the majority decision. In my opinion,
that is how democracy should work. What I find exasperating is the
willingness on the part of some people to settle for mediocrity and inaction
as you seem to suggest in para.3. viz.: that the role of the electoral
committee is "to encourage people to stand for and conduct elections." The
role of the electoral committee goes far beyond that, of course. But more
importantly, I could not imagine that any electoral committee could have
done otherwise given the issues that we have dealt in the last two
elections.
(b). Is there a provision for the amendment of any part or whole in this
present constitution?
No. That is because you did not make provision for one. The omission
strikes me as an ingredient of our own infallibility as humans, and thus
tells us that we must be willing to succumb to change when it is necessary.
Given the problems we have had with the constitution in the past, does it
not occur to you that such a provision is necessary?. Because there is no
provision for amendments does not mean that there should not be one. More
importantly, I would rather have provisions to amend the constitution
clearly stipulated than have some fascists interpret or pretend to know
what the drafters had in mind. I agree with you that the thing "wrong in
AFRICA TODAY"(para. 4) is that people play games with the constitutions of
their respective countries. I would go further to say that a more serious
problem is with those fascists in AFRICA who think they have a monopoly over
knowledge. If it is not their idea it is not good and to criticize that
idea is tantamount to attacking their person.
(c). Who said that the African Association's constitution is so perfect
that it cannot be changed/amended?
You did. You have said so on numerous occasions, even last Saturday during
the election. To quote you, 'if it isn't broke don't fix it." It take that
you meant that the constitution is perfect and working as exemplified with
the transition from the vice presidency to the presidency of Richard Yarl.
Were these not your words?
I hope I have answered your queries fully. I thank you for to opportunity
to chat with my chief in a frank and cordial manner. Oh! by the way, why
do you always walk out when a debate gets heated?. As your humble subject,
I should tell you that whenever my chief walks out on me after a heated
debate, I get confused; I go home and take my frustrations on your sister.
She cools me off with some good goat pepper soup, sometimes.
Have a Merry Christmas and a bright and prosperous New Year. I shall be
away on a well deserved vacation for the rest of the year; hence, I shall
not respond to future articles. Your poor subject does not have e-mail
facility at home.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS 1999 EVERYONE!
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