A Presidential Aspirant under the All Progressive Congress, APC, Dr Abubakar Alkali has promised to give Nigeria a new constitution if elected into office in 2019.
Mr Alkali, who hails from Sokoto North LGA in Sokoto State, told newsmen in Abuja that the new constitution encompasses economic and political reforms.
He said: “Once we are elected, I will write to the National Assembly a proposal for a new constitution for Nigeria that will inculcate fundamental economic and political reforms towards creating wealth and ensure its fair distribution to the citizens.
Mr Alkali also said other changes in the new constitution will include a unicameral legislature and a trim, sharp and effective federal executive council by cutting down the number of ministers from 44 to 24 representing 4 ministers per geopolitical zone.
“These changes are also expected to reflect in the state houses of assembly and state executive councils. Savings from these cuts will be invested in our communities to create jobs, fight poverty and build infrastructure,” he said.
Mr Alkali further said he will in tandem with the legislature also expunge the immunity clause in section 308 (1) of the 1999 constitution which covers certain public office holders from prosecution and introduce a clause in the new constitution that will place a life ban from holding public office on any public office holder prosecuted by courts of competent jurisdiction.
He stated that the new constitution will also contain measures for a holistic and total war against corruption in Nigeria.
Mr Alkali while lamenting the over-reliance on oil as a major source of revenue for the Country promised to within 100 days, launch an Agriculture revolution programme that would invest in heavy mechanized farming with emphasis on rice and cotton production.
He said, ‘I will launch an agricultural revolution programme (ARP) that will involve heavy investments in mechanized farming with emphasis on rice and cotton.
“I will also set up modalities to build at least one rice processing factory and a textile industry in each geopolitical zone in our country to promote micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) along these commodities.”
He promised to set modalities for building modern skills acquisition centers in each of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria while the government will provide soft loans to successful candidates in the training.
According to him, the skill acquisition programme will create jobs and ensure in a private sector driven economy.
He also vowed to announce the immediate take off of N75,000 minimum wage. This will be followed by reforms in the public sector.
In an effort to grow the agricultural sector, Mr Alkali said his government will announce a conditional equipment loan of N2.5 million to any young Nigerian wishing to go back to the farm.
Mr Alkali holds a PhD in Chemical and Process Engineering, MSc in Petroleum Engineering and a Post Graduate diploma Pgd in research methods all from the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland United Kingdom also holds a BSc (Hons) Chemistry and MBA (Marketing) from Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and a Diploma in computer studies from the Caliphate computer training institute Sokoto.
Mr Alkali who contested for Senator for Sokoto Central Senatorial zone in the 2011 general elections under the platform of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), is expected to contest for the Presidency under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The presidential election would hold in February, 2019.
