By Samuel Oyadongha
YENAGOA—Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Joshua Igbagara, weekend, faulted the outcome of constitution drafting and amendments in the country, saying that the various drafting committees had failed the nation with the inclusion of immunity clause and constituency projects for Governors and members of the National Assembly.

King Igbagara, who was a member of the constitution drafting committee during the administration late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, noted with sadness that the constitution amendment committee in which he served like many others after it failed the nation by not amending the immunity clause for Governors and the allocation of constituency fund handed elective officers.

“This unwholesome development, laid the foundation for money laundering and fraud among politicians and diversion of funds meant to develop the constituencies,” he said.

The royal father, who spoke in Yenagoa during the inaugural public lecture entitled “Good Governance: Pains, Gains of Leadership and 2011 Polls” organised by the member of the FCC of the NUJ, said the issue of good governance would have been much assisted if the constitution review committees including those set up during late General  Abacha had amended the clauses on immunity and constituency funds.

“I was a member of a constitution review committee,  that suggested the inclusion of the immunity clause in the constitution. We were known as 300 wise men but when we finished we became 300 foolish men. We failed the corporate existence of the nation with the inclusion of immunity clause, which  has protected politicians against prosecution for fraud, money laundering and other evils in governance,” he said.

“Look at the inclusion of constituency funding at the National Assembly and state, when millions are given out, the legislators don’t go to their constituency to execute any project.”