The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District of Ebonyi State, Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi has rejected the call by a group of eminent Nigerians under the aegis of the Patriots to discard the entire 1999 constitution, saying it’s a product of military dictatorship.
Nwebonyi argued that some aspects of the constitution still stand the test of time, noting that Nigerians are free to air their opinions on all sections of the constitution that require amendments.
The Senator stated this on Thursday night during a live interview with the Arise TV Prime Time against the backdrop of the ongoing constitutional amendments by the National Assembly.
Nwebonyi, who is also the chairman of the South East Zonal Public Hearing on the Constitutional Amendment, held between 4-5th July, 2025, explained that the Committee received many germane requests from the zone for state police, state creation, devolution of power, among others.
However, the federal lawmaker maintained that only the South East zone has genuine request for additional state to be at par with other zones which has between 6 to 7 states.
He called on the other geopolitical zones to support the clarion call for the creation of at least one more state in the South east for equity, justice and fairness.
Senator Nwebonyi equally lent his support for state police, resource control and devolution of power.
He noted that solid minerals for instance should be handed over to states with the mineral resources to manage and pay taxes and royalties to the federal government in order to boost the nation’s economy.
The parliamentarian also hinted that there will be a joint Public Hearing of the National Assembly to collate and aggregate the opinions of all Nigerians on the amended sections of the 1999 constitution, expressing strong optimism that the new constitution will be assented to by Mr. President.
