Give Burkina Faso New Constitution, Nigeria Former Presidential Aspirant, Ikubese Tells Ibrahim Traore

By Dupson Collins, 27th April, 2025

A Former Nigeria Presidential Aspirant, Dr Thomas Wilson-Ikubese has charged the Head of State of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore to urgently give the country a new constitution and restore democracy as against military rule in the country.

37 years Traore took control of Burkina Faso after ousting Interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo in a coup detat in September 2022.

In a video posted on his Facebook Page, Ikubese said now that the ovation is at its peak, Traore should give his country new constitution while involving all the relevant stakeholders in its drafting.

Ikubese who kicked against military rules said the Khaki Men will continue to take over governance from democratically elected government in Africa for as long as the political classes are deeply rooted in corruption.

” I am not an advocate of military taken over of government in Africa but wether we like it or not, it won’t stop in Africa because we have leaders who got elected into government to enrich themselves and popularize their political dynasty”.

Ikubese listed eight items to be included in the suggested new constitution that Ibrahim Traore should draft and give to the Burkina Faso Citizens, noting that the constitution should make political offices unattractive for jobbers and looters of public resources.

According to Ikubese, it should be enshrined in the constitution that, political parties must not sell forms at exorbitant price but in rate that is affordable for an average citizens, noting that, interested persons need not break bank before collecting forms and contesting election.

Secondly, it must also be enshrined in the constitution that, all votes must be electronic and results must be electronically transmitted from the polling unit on the day of election”.

” Thirdly, salary of political office holders should be at the same range with that of the Civil Servants. The minimum wage in Burkina Faso should be the same money to be collected by the politicians, no bogus allowance, this must form part of the constitution Traore should give Burkina Faso”.

Fourthly, Income and Expediture of government should be published for every one to see and forwarded same to Burkina Faso Anti-Graft Agency, of which Ibrahim Traore should establish one if such agency is not in existence in the country.

Also, the new constitution should remove immunity of political office holders from cases of corruption. Whoever corruption allegation is level against, no immunity to protect him or her from litigation. He or she should be docked and face trial.

It must also be in the constitution that, corruption cases must be determined within six months without giving room for frivolous adjournment.

On the corruption cases, where political holders are found guilty, the penalty should be life imprisonment without option of fine. Also his wife, children and husband as the case maybe should be banned from holding public office in Burkina Faso.

Lastly, Single term non renewable in office which could be five or six years should be included in the constitution.

Ikubese added that, once these and other considerations back by the agreement of all stakeholders are put in place, Traore should conduct free and fair election, supervise and return a democratically elected government in Burkina Faso.

He noted that if Ibrahim Traore can bodly give a new constitution to the people and insert eight items suggested into it, political jobbers will leave the politics for the serious minded and genuine people that have the interest of the people at heart.

” After he must have conducted free and fair election, he should step aside, let a new elected president take oath of office and allow Burkina Faso to run an auto-pilot as a functional state. This is my counsel to Traore because if he fails to do this now, the ovation will soon turn sours. Those people clapping for you, will turn against you and begin to say negative things”.

“Do this eight things urgently, your name will be written in gold while setting a template for functional Africa States”.

He tasked African countries under military government to adopt the 8 items given to President Traore saying that is the only solution to a functional states in Africa.