Some eminent Nigerian political and leaders of thought have called for a new constitution to propel the country’s development and address its present challenges
The leaders included the Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, former Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, a former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, a legal luminary, Chief Mike Ozekhome among others.
They spoke at the “National Dialogue on the Constitutional Future of Nigeria” in honour of the late renowned constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze organised by The Patriots, a pan -Nigerian group of eminent national leaders of thought.
The programme had the theme, “Lawful Procedures for Actualising a People’s Constitution for Nigeria.”
A former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, said Nigeria was still struggling to fulfil its potential as a nation owing to lack of true federalism.
Anyaoku, chairman of the Patriots, said Nigeria had failed to develop like other pluralistic countries in the world because of its inability to devolve powers to federating units.
According to him, other pluralistic countries are far ahead of Nigeria in terms of development because they have implemented true federalism.
“First, Nigeria is a pluralistic country that is still struggling to become a nation with assured political stability and progressive socio-economic development.
“The fact from across the world is that some pluralistic countries have succeeded in becoming developed nations ,while other pluralistic countries have failed and disintegrated.
“The lesson from this is that pluralistic countries, which have succeeded in becoming nations have generally practiced true federalism with considerable power devolved to the federating units.
“This fact was acknowledged by our founding fathers who negotiated painstakingly and agreed on the Independence Constitution of 1960-1963.”
Anyaoku said Nigeria’s present constitution lacked the legitimacy that should flow from a democratically-made constitution.
The diplomat added that the constitution had proven to be unsuitable for tackling many of the serious challenges confronting our country.
“It is a widely recognized fact that the crucial areas of the country have significantly deteriorated and continue to deteriorate.”
Anyaoku said Nigeria had suffered deterioration in many fronts in security, healthcare, education, economic well-being of the citizens, and infrastructure.
He said that the country had equally suffered in the area of social cohesion, social values and the sense of national unity.
He said Nigeria had the option of getting a truly federal constitution by adopting the recommendations of the 2014 National Confab organised by President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Or we go for a relatively inexpensive directly elected constituent assembly on a non-party basis for producing such a widely desired constitution,” he said.
In his intervention, Adebanjo said for Nigeria to move forward, the 1999 constitution must be changed to reflect true federalism.
The Afenifere leader called for the adoption of the 2014 Constitutional Conference report and its processing into a new constitution for the country.
“You cannot get a better representation for this country other than those who represented this country in 2014.
“I challenge anybody to tell me if there can be a better representation for this country other than the 2014 representation of Nigerians.” Adebanjo added that the 1999 constitution was lopsided and not federal in nature, noting that the 2014 National Confab had addressed its inadequacies.Adebanjo said that there was no need to consider calling another assembly of Nigerians, saying the 2014 confab document contained all that would be needed to draft a new constitution for the country.
Sanwo-Olu, in his goodwill message, threw his weight behind the agitation for a truly federal constitution in order to devolve power to the states.
He charged the National Assembly to put a legal framework in place for the birth of a new constitution that would be determined by the Nigerian people.
According to him, it is an anomaly for instance, for a federal agency to control the waterways in Lagos.
The governor said it was regrettable that people who were advocates of true federalism suddenly changed as soon as they got to the centre.
He, however, said the conversation around the making of a new constitution should be driven further.
“We must take this conversation and make it very effective. Let us be able to make the change we desire. Let the soul of Prof. Ben Nwabueze rest in peace.”
Aregbesola said Nigeria could not survive the executive presidential system.
“Can Nigeria survive executive presidential representation? The answer is no.”
He also called for a new constitution to put the country on the path of development.
In his keynote address, Ozekhome, called on the National Assembly to set up a National Referendum Commission that would collate all recommendations towards drafting a new constitution.
According to him, the constitution is the birth certificate or identity card of any nation, saying that the procedure by which a constitution comes is more important than the constitution itself.
“Referendum is key to any constitution making. The Constitution amendment is not the problem. The 1999 Constitution is a fundamentally flawed one; one million amendments cannot cure or solve it.
“Nigerians should sit down to renegotiate their constitution and believe in themselves, as people believe more in their home states than a country called Nigeria.”
He said the National Assembly should promulgate a law setting up a National Referendum Commission (NRC), that will be charged with working on the report of the 2014 conference and the 1963 constitution, to birth a new constitution.
George, PDP leader, who was also a member of the 2014 National Delegates Conference, said the current system was not working.
Also speaking, former Cross River State governor, Mr. Donald Duke, said constitutional change was important, noting that if the country had the right constitution with the right people, things would work out well.
Other eminent Nigerians who spoke at the dialogue included former governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) Senator Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), James Ibori (Delta), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary- General of the Commonwealth, among others.
Prof. Nwabueze was the pioneer Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo .
He was also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a leading leader of thought.
Nwabueze died on October 28, 2023, aged 92.