- Distinguished leaders advocate for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution due to its perceived lack of legitimacy
- Led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the event aimed to honor legal luminary Prof. Ben Nwabueze
A gathering of distinguished leaders, including elder statesmen and former governors, convened to advocate for the complete overhaul of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. Their call, rooted in the document’s perceived lack of legitimacy and failure to address the nation’s challenges, echoed at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos during the National Dialogue on the Constitutional Future of Nigeria.
The event was led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, to honour legal luminary Prof. Ben Nwabueze. The Patriots, a pan-Nigerian group of eminent national leaders, organized the event under the theme “Lawful Procedures for Actualizing a People’s Constitution for Nigeria.”
High-profile attendees included former Minister of Finance Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and several former governors, all endorsing the call for a new constitution.
Anyaoku stressed the need for a democratically crafted constitution, highlighting the deficiencies of the current document in addressing Nigeria’s diverse challenges. He proposed adopting the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference or convening a nonpartisan constituent assembly to develop a truly federal constitution.
Echoing this sentiment, Pa Adebanjo urged President Bola Tinubu, a proponent of constitutional reform, to establish a committee to draft a new constitution within three months. He questioned the National Assembly’s capability to oversee the process due to its association with the flawed 1999 Constitution.
Constitutional lawyer Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) condemned attempts to amend the Constitution, asserting its fundamental flaws. He called for the immediate establishment of a National Referendum Commission to collate existing documents and facilitate the creation of a new constitution within six months.
Former Sokoto State Governor Senator Tambuwal proposed invoking a “doctrine of necessity” akin to that used during the late President Yar’Adua’s health challenges to initiate the constitutional reform process.
Former governors emphasized the necessity of presidential support for a new constitution, with Governor Sanwo-Olu pledging his backing for genuine federalism and devolution of power to federating units.
The leaders underscored that the call for a new constitution seeks to rectify the anomalies of Nigeria’s federal structure, not dismantle the nation. Despite the current constitutional limitations, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized his commitment to ensuring sustainable development.
The event concluded with a collective resolve to pursue constitutional reform earnestly, recognizing the challenges posed by shifting political allegiances hindering progress towards true federalism.