TheCable

Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna central, says devolution of power and reform of the electoral system should be prioritised in the constitutional amendment process.

NAN reports that Sani, who spoke in an interview in Lagos on Sunday, lamented how political interests have always frustrated moves to amend the constitution.

The former lawmaker added that developmental issues are usually not prioritised during the constitution amendment process because of the interests of political leaders.

“Since 1999, the national assembly has been inaugurating committees to amend the constitution of Nigeria, but the problem has been that the issues that are supposed to be amended are not amended because of interests,” he said

“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,” Sani said.