Thread by @mrfestusogun

SO, WHO MADE THE 1999 CONSTITUTION?

The preamble of the 1999 Constitution says it was made by “we the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. This has really been subject to serious debates and arguments and has even led some people to doubt the legitimacy of the document.

So, who made the Constitution?

Was it made by the people or the military?

Bearing in mind that the constitution in a democracy must be autochthonous, it is important that the questions are answered for our collective development.

Let’s go!

The journey started in 1994 when Abacha, a military dictator, established the Constitutional Conference Commission headed by Justice A. G. Karibi-Whyte. The Commission submitted a draft of the Constitution in 1995 but Abacha didn’t effect it till his death in 1998.

In November 1998, General Abubakar (the military man who succeeded Abacha) set up another 24-member Constitution Debate Co-ordinating Committee headed by the late eminent jurist, Niki Tobi, and given 2 months to submit report.

The Committee submitted its report to Abubakar in December, 1998. Thereafter, the Armed Forces Ruling Council, the highest law making body at that time, rejected some of the Committee’s recommendations, debated, ‘appraised’ and amended the draft Constitution.

The Ministry of Justice produced the final draft but was re-examined by the AFRC. On the 5th of May, 1999, the AFRC (all men, 26 in number) promulgated the draft Constitution by Decree No. 24 of 1999 as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

It is the same decree No. 24 that was adopted on 29th of May, 1999 as the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – we operate till date, with some editorial amendments in 2011.

So, can you now conveniently answer the question: who made the 1999 Constitution?