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The Society for
Preservation of Rotation Convention (SPRC), a group in support of the
zoning of political offices in the country, said on Sunday, it is
outraged over the handling of the recently concluded amendment of the
1999 Constitution.

The group, in a
statement by its national coordinator, Osita Okechukwu, said the review
falls short of the expectations of Nigerians.

“SPRC is outraged
over how the National Assembly (NASS) unpatriotically embarked on
voyage of self service and self glorification, evaded and smashed the
high expectations of Nigerians for genuine Electoral Reform, hence
converted the First Amendment of the 1999 Constitution into self
service and self glorification,” he said.

“SPRC is of the
candid view that Nigerians, for the avoidance of doubt, harbour a very
nostalgic memory and gravitas of giant of Africa; but daily bemoan how
shambolic, do-or-die national, state and local elections had tainted
our image, mashed our national pride and dwarfed our ratings,” the
statement said.

The group said it
is unhappy that the legislature, as well as President Goodluck
Jonathan, did not act on the core recommendations of the Muhammed Uwais
report.

It said the Uwais
report was borne out of national consensus and therefore rated as an
article of faith and guiding principle in any genuine attempt to
reconstruct a truly Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The activists also
regretted that the amendment exercise failed to address issues such as
Electoral Reform and the restructuring of the federation.

It said in deleting
Section 66 of the constitution, which forbids those indicted for
corruption from contesting elections, the National Assembly has
demonstrated a self service spirit to sustain their jumbo allowances
and protect looters.

Self-glorification

The group also described as self-glorification the amendment of Section 81 to put the federal legislature on first line charge.

It said: “Section
81 – in a self glorification bid, the NASS in granting
First-Line-Charge to INEC like the Judiciary, opportunistically joined
NASS the list of those whose budget will paid be directly from the
Consolidated Revenue Fund. While at the same time deleting the Uwais
recommendation that insulates the president from appointing key
officers of INEC; which could have made INEC truly independent. Of what
use is directly funding a surrogate INEC?

“Section 65 –
Upgrade of Educational Qualification, from school certificate to
Diploma; as if the poor performance of last eleven years is because of
illiteracy”.

SPRC also said it
was at a loss as to how Mr. Jonathan’s call for free, fair and
transparent 2011 elections will be achieved without genuine Electoral
Reform.

“On the broad outline, we call on the State Houses of Assembly to
jettison the so-called amendment, place national interest above petty
and narrow interest. For a greater Nigeria is a win-win situation,” the
group said.