This is the concluding part of this essay which last week listed the names of  members of the committee set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo to review the 1999 Constitution following suggestions that it was made in a hurry and therefore had numerous lapses. The committee, which was inaugurated in 1999, was headed by Ambassador Yusuf Mamman.

Other members of the committee were Chief Clement Ebri(Deputy Chairman), Alhaji Iro Abubakar Dan-Musa, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, Chief Yohanna Madaki, Chief Alani Bankole, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Mrs Iyabode Pam, Air C’dre Bernard Banfa (rtd), Mrs Ayoka Lawani, Hajiya Basirat A. Nahibi, Alhaji Isiaku Mohammed, Chief A.K. Horsfall, Chief Ayo Opadokun, Dr. J.C. Odunna, Mika Anache, Dr. Amos Adepoju, Dr, Silva Opusunju, Chief Barnabas Gemade, Alhaji Gambo Saleh, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo, Dr. Maxwell M. Gidado and Mrs M.V.I. Mbu. Shortly after inauguration, Chief Barnabas Gemade was replaced by Edward Ashiekaa. 

Later, an adjustment to the Committee’s composition was made when Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief A.K. Horsfall, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, Mrs. Ayoka Lawani, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo and Chief Solomon Asemota, SAN, were replaced by Dr. Stella O. Dorgu, Prince Valentine Ahams, Mohammed Babangida Umar, Alhaji Abdulhamid Hassan, Adeniyi Akintola, Sunday Kuku Iyakwo and Dr. Olu Agunloye.  

Accordingly, the Committee undertook a 23-day nationwide visitation programme to hold public hearings on the Constitution Review Exercise in all state capitals. In order to effectively but less strenuously cover the entire country within three weeks, the Committee broke into three Tour Teams, with each team assigned to cover two geo-political zones, one in the North and one in the South. Team “A” was led by Ambassador Yusuf Mamman with other members as follows: Air Cdre (rtd) Bernand Banfa, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, Mrs Iyabode Pam, Dr. J.C. Odunna Dr. Silva Opusunju, Colonel (rtd) Yohanna Madaki, Dr. Maxwell Gidado (Secretary), Johnson Ebokpo (Rapporteur) and Sajo Dahiru Bobo (Legal Assistant). Team “B” was led by Chief Clement Ebri.

The other members being the following: Alhaji Iro Dan Musa, Chief Albert Horsfall, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo, Dr. Amos Adepoju, Mika Anache, Hajiya Basirat A. Nahibi, Alhaji Gambo Mohammed Saleh, Dr. Maxwell Nduaguibe (Rapporteur) and Mr. Abdulmumuni Umar (Legal Assistant). Team “C”, the third of the three teams, was led by Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke and with him were the following members: Edward Ashiekaa, Chief Alani Bankole, Alhaji Umaru Ahmed, Alhaji Isiaku Mohammed, Mrs Ayoka Lawani, Mrs. M.V.I. Mbu, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Samuel Dusu (Rapporteur) and Felix Olelewe (Legal Assistant).

The Tour commenced on Sunday January 16, 2000 and ended on Wednesday February 9, 2000 when the visitation programme for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was completed. 

On completion of its nation-wide visitation programme, a delegation of the Committee travelled to the United States of America to attend a seminar on the “Threat to Democracy in Nigeria” at Colin Powell Centre, New York, under the sponsorship of Ford Foundation. The lessons drawn at the seminar were revealing as they pointed out fresh approaches which would not only render the Committee’s work more thorough, but would also make the outcome of the Constitution Review Exercise more nationally and internationally acceptable. A new dimension therefore emerged with the offer of US$2 million technical/financial assistance from Ford Foundation to enable the Committee widen the scope and levels of consultations on its assignment, thereby making it more participatory. Such an expansion in the Constitution Review process inevitably went far beyond the initial conception and financial projections of government when Mr. President constituted the Committee. The Ford Foundation support facility was therefore very timely. 

As part of this financial assistance, the Ford Foundation also attached Consultant to the Committee at the Foundation’s expense but with the Committee providing him with only accommodation and local transportation. The Consultant, Professor Bereket Selassie, a Professor of Law and Politics at North Carolina University, USA, and one-time Chairman of the Eritrean Constitution Commission arrived soon after in Nigeria and assisted the Committee during some critical aspects of the Constitution Review Exercise.

I am happy that Chief Emeka Anyaoku’s Committee of Patriots has resolved to give the country a better Constitution. They should be encouraged in all ways. We cannot deceive ourselves. This 1999 Constitution will lead us nowhere. Something must be done urgently. No matter how long we are implementing the provisions of the Constitution. 

It was made in a hurry  and it was  made in error. 

•Eric Teniola, a former director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.