Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has dismissed calls for state creation and additional constitutional restructuring.
Naijaonpoint reports that Galadima, in an interview on ARISE Television on Friday, responded to ongoing debates about constitutional amendment.
The elder statesman said Nigeria does not need a constitutional review, but rather an attitudinal shift among leaders and institutions.
According to Galadima, state creation often serves as an ethnic or political appeasement rather than a genuine development strategy.
He further stated that the legislature are more interested in spending money from the budget, adding that they should utilise the National Orientation Agency to change Nigerians’ attitudes toward governance.
He said, “There is no need to amend any constitution. Let them follow what is there. The problem is attitudinal change. Do we really need states? If the legislature are only looking for money to spend from the budget, let them take the money and share and leave us as we are, and let them pray and use National Orientation Agency to change our attitude, the attitude of Nigerians toward governance. That would be better than tampering with the Constitution.
“What we need now is electoral reform where the votes of the people should count, and this is where politicians from all political persuasions and all political parties must come together to fight for a proper electoral reform. And if we can’t do it from this National Assembly and other assemblies in states, please, let’s talk to those that people in government in Nigeria fear. I’m not saying that we should become a British or American colony, but it is only them that can talk to those in authority in Nigeria and they scamper for cover.”
Galadima insisted that any real reform agenda must prioritise electoral reforms, adding, “Please, it is electoral reform that we only need, and that doesn’t need any constitutional amendment. The law for the election is good enough to address that matter.”