By Nduka Fred Anene
On March 26, 2025, at his expansive abode, Chief FRA Williams was posthumously honored—twenty years after his passing—with a powerful Advocacy Session organized by The Patriots. This esteemed body, once led by luminaries such as Chief FRA Williams, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, and Pa Adebanjo, now operates under the distinguished leadership of Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
For decades, The Patriots have stood as the unwavering voice for a true federation in Nigeria. Their calls for constitutional reform resounded more forcefully than ever during the Advocacy Session, held in the revered chambers of Timi The Law. This historic setting, where Chief FRA Williams and his children once meticulously dissected legal briefs before stepping into the courtroom, took on new significance as it became a battleground for the fight to reclaim Nigeria’s constitutional destiny.
At the heart of this advocacy is a stark and undeniable truth: the 1999 Constitution—amended or not—is an illegitimate document imposed by the military. Its preamble, which deceitfully begins with “We the people,” is an outright falsehood. Nigerians were never consulted, never assembled, and never given the opportunity to shape the supreme law that governs them.
Nigeria is a nation of diverse nationalities, each with distinct traditions, cultures, and territorial identities. A true federation must be built on a foundation that acknowledges and respects these realities. Yet, the 1999 Constitution does the opposite, enforcing a unitary structure under the guise of federalism. This is why The Patriots insist on a new, legitimate, and people-driven constitution—one born not from the dictates of the government but from the collective will of the people.
As one speaker at the event poignantly asked, “if the foundation is faulty, what can the righteous do?” The answer is clear: rebuild from the ground up.
Legal and constitutional experts at the session reaffirmed a fundamental principle: sovereignty resides with the people. No Nigerian constitution has ever been subjected to a referendum—an essential democratic process. The 1999 Constitution is not an organic expression of the people’s will but a relic of military decree. From the Save Nigeria Project to present-day advocacy, this truth has remained at the forefront of the struggle.
Over two decades into democratic governance, Nigeria has yet to convene a national assembly to draft a constitution that genuinely reflects the aspirations of its people. Instead, successive governments—from Obasanjo to Jonathan—have squandered opportunities, opting for piecemeal amendments that merely reinforce an already defective system.
The Patriots argue that fundamental constitutional change cannot be achieved through legislative patchwork but requires a constituent assembly and a national referendum.
To advance this urgent mission, The Patriots met with President Bola Tinubu on August 9, 2024, pressing the need for a new constitution. They now await decisive action from the presidency. Plans are also underway to engage with the National Assembly, emphasizing that true reform lies beyond the corridors of legislative amendment—it rests in the hands of the people.
In a bid to sustain momentum, The Patriots, through Chief FRA Williams Chambers, will organize a national colloquium to further discussions on Nigeria’s constitutional future. The vision remains unchanged: to establish true federalism, thereby setting Nigeria on the path of genuine progress and development.
The issue of constitutional amendments by the National Assembly remains contentious. As Prof. Ben Nwabueze critically observed in his autobiography His Life, Works and Times (Volume 2), “The ongoing Constitution review exercise by the National Assembly is nothing but shadow-boxing. A constitution, by definition, is an instrument of government whose authority derives from the people. The 1999 Constitution, imposed by military decree, is not a constitution at all. To amend it is to chase shadows in a futile exercise propelled by the self-interest of legislators.”
Indeed, these unilateral amendments have eroded the sovereignty of the people, with “no-go areas” further entrenching military-era impositions. The Patriots, however, are not advocating for Nigeria’s disintegration. On the contrary, they are fighting for its unity, stability, and future. Their demand is simple: a national dialogue to draft a truly representative constitution—one that is ratified by the people through a referendum.
A flawed constitution begets systemic failure. The consequences of Nigeria’s constitutional dysfunction are evident—rampant insecurity, political instability, corruption, and economic stagnation. The Patriots argue that governance structures shape leadership. A defective constitution has produced leaders who fail to distinguish between constitutional review (a fundamental overhaul by the people) and constitutional amendment (a superficial fix by legislators).
Chief FRA Williams, the revered legal luminary, once warned that “wuwuru” (deception) would inevitably lead to “katakata” (chaos). His words ring truer than ever. The military-imposed 1999 Constitution has ushered in precisely the chaos he foresaw. The solution is neither ambiguous nor negotiable: Nigeria must adopt a new, legitimate, and people-driven constitution that fosters equity, peace, unity, and national progress.
As it stands, only a privileged 20% of Nigerians benefit from the existing constitutional framework. The majority continue to languish under a structure that was never designed to serve them. The call for true federalism is not just a matter of reform—it is an existential necessity.
The time for action is now. The vision of Chief FRA Williams and his compatriots must not be lost to history. Nigeria stands at a crossroads, and the choice is clear: continue down the path of constitutional deception or embrace the transformative power of a true people’s constitution. The Patriots, undeterred and resolute, will not rest until Nigeria takes the latter path—toward justice, democracy, and national rebirth.
• Anene (Ezeonwa), a public affairs analyst, writes from Lagos