By Chukwuma Umeorah
Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Emeka Anyaoku, has renewed calls for a comprehensive constitutional reform, asserting that only a true federal structure can address Nigeria’s challenges of unity, stability, and development.
Speaking as chairman at the launch of the biography of Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, titled: “A Noble Academic and Patriot,” Anyaoku argued that the existing 1999 constitution was an ineffective framework for managing Nigeria’s diverse and complex society. According to him, “We must have a true Nigerian peoples’ democratic constitution based on the principles that underlined our 1960/63 constitution which was painstakingly negotiated and agreed by the founding fathers of independent Nigeria.
“As long as we have the 1999 constitution as our grundnorm, not even Angel Gabriel or Malaikah Jibrin as leaders can successfully tackle the divisiveness, the underperforming economy, the resultant poverty, the insecurity, the humongous corruption, and the other major challenges currently facing Nigeria,” he added stressing that only a “truly federal constitution” could enable Nigeria to thrive in its diversity, much like other pluralistic nations that have achieved stability and development through federalism.
Tracing the roots of Nigeria’s constitutional challenges, Anyaoku recalled how the military’s intervention in 1966 dismantled the 1960/63 constitution, which was negotiated by Nigeria’s founding fathers and had successfully supported the country’s progress. “Nigeria was more united, more stable, and developing towards achieving its potential under that constitution until the military intervened in January 1966 and introduced the unitary constitution that has virtually existed, albeit in different forms, until today,” he stated. This is even as he pointed to global examples like India, Canada, and Switzerland, which he said have managed their pluralism through true federal constitutions. In contrast, countries that failed to do so, such as Yugoslavia, Sudan, and Czechoslovakia, ultimately disintegrated.
Emphasising the urgency of reform, Anyaoku urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to act decisively to restore a constitutional structure that reflects Nigeria’s diversity. “For the sake of preserving our country,” he said, “the Federal Government and the National Assembly should not delay any longer acting on what is clearly a universal lesson.” He advocated for a new “Nigerian people’s democratic constitution” based on the principles established by the country’s founding fathers, which he believed would restore the unity, political stability, and economic growth Nigeria once experienced.
The event honored the life and achievements of Professor Osuntokun, esteemed historian, diplomat and the Baapitan of Oyo Kingdom.
Anyaoku described Osuntokun as a true friend and an elder statesman whose intellectual contributions and dedication to national service has distinguished him from his peers.