Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared the unity of Nigeria sacrosanct.
Makinde made this declaration in his office while receiving members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, including the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, who were in Ibadan to consult with stakeholders on the proposed constitution amendments.
In his address, Makinde said: “I have seen people who were given the opportunity to change the trajectory of the nation but because of selfishness and personal interest, they missed the road.’
“Who knows who is going to be here tomorrow? Whatever you do, do it in the wider interest of the country; the unity of Nigeria is sacrosanct. A united Nigeria is the route to go.
“Why do people go to court after an election? It is because they feel cheated. If you open up the space and have transparency, nobody will go to court.
“Now that our democracy seems to be holding, because since independence, this is our longest democratic experience, it is our responsibility as leaders to deepen the democracy.”
Alli, in his remark, said that the joint committee will visit all the zones of the country to ensure that the views of Nigerians are captured in the amendments.
He also reiterated the plan of the committee to come up with legislation that would ensure the conclusion of all electoral disputes before the inauguration of elected officials.