Abolish 1999 Constitution, Dantata tells Nigerian policy makers

Renowned Kano businessman, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, has called for the abolition of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution to make way for the emergence of a credible leadership.

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM gathered that Dantata, an uncle to Africa’s richest man, billionaire Aliko Dangote, stated this at his residence in Koki Quarters of Kano metropolis, Kano State, when the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) led by its chairman, Professor Ango Abdullahi, paid him a condolence visit over the deaths of some prominent northern indigenes in recent time.

The business mogul said the current constitution upon which Nigeria is governed should be amended in accordance with the present realities.

According to him, Nigeria is passing through a critical stage of democratic transition where the presidential system of government needs to be discarded in favour of a parliamentary system.

He described the presidential system as too expensive to sustain, pointing out that it was the expensive nature of the system that has given way to a myriad of problems bedevilling the country.

Speaking further, Dantata said Nigeria has suffered a lot in the hands of colonial masters who had exploited the country for years, lamenting that it was the wealth of the country they plundered in order to boost their own economic fortune.

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According to him, there was a compelling need for urgent rethink for the country to answer its name in every sphere of human interest.

He stressed that Nigeria is currently losing focus and steam as a result of absence of focused and credible leadership.

The Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Professor Abdullahi, stated that the group was in Kano to condole with the people and government of the state over the deaths of Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, Dr Ibrahim Datti Ahmad, Sani Dangote and Ado Gwaram, former Secretary to Kano State Government (SSG).

Those on the entourage included General Saleh Maina, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Waziri Bauchi Alhaji Bello Kirfi, Nastura Shariff, Hajiya Najaatu Mohammed, among others.