Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, spoke candidly about a heated meeting he had with former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his convocation speech at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State. CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Punch claims that while Obasanjo was president, the event happened when he suggested changing the 1999 Constitution.
In his lecture titled “Mass Exodus of Human Capital in Nigeria: An Anatomical Analysis of the Causes and Effects,” Olanipekun delved into the nation’s challenges, attributing many of them to the perceived shortcomings of the current constitution.
He strongly criticized the constitution, labeling it a fraudulent document that contributes to the country’s numerous issues. He raised concerns about the current practice of governors frequently visiting Abuja to meet with high-ranking government officials, questioning whether this reflects true federalism.
As someone with a legal background, he stressed the deceptive nature of the existing constitution while acknowledging its flaws.
He emphasized, “Lawyers and judges apply the law as it is, not the law as it ought to be; so we apply the law as we have it now, and we have been pleading that we should amend the constitution; let us overhaul it.”
“I, as President of the NBA, led a delegation of the association to President Obasanjo in 2022; he almost boxed me.” “I am here in Ogun State, and I’m saying this; he is still alive.”
“He said, ‘No, you can’t change it’. I said, ‘Mr. President, let us seize this opportunity to do it’ and we also appeal to the powers that be now, to our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the time for us to restructure this country is now.”
“If we do not do it, these children that we have abroad might not return home; they won’t come here.” In terms of the challenges faced by Nigerians living abroad, Olanipekun outlined discouraging factors such as the alarming rate of killings and the overall hardship in the country.
He called for the creation of an environment where graduates can be assured of employment or receive state support. He emphasized the need for proactive measures to prevent the loss of human capital. CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
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