Eminent leaders of thought, including elder statesmen and former governors, have called for the complete overhaul of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, citing its lack of legitimacy and inability to address the country’s challenges.
The call was made at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos during the National Dialogue on the Constitutional Future of Nigeria in honor of renowned legal luminary Prof. Ben Nwabueze. The event was organized by the Patriots, a pan-Nigerian group of eminent national leaders of thought, with the theme “Lawful Procedures for Actualizing a People’s Constitution for Nigeria.”
Notable figures at the event included former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and Chairman of the Patriots, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu; and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
Former governors in attendance included Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Obong Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State, Donald Duke of Cross River State, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, all of whom supported the call for a new constitution.
Anyaoku, speaking at the event, emphasized that the current constitution lacks the legitimacy expected in a pluralistic country like Nigeria. He called for the adoption of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference or the convening of a nonpartisan constituent assembly to develop a truly federal constitution.
“The incontrovertible fact that I would like to state is that our present 1999 constitution as amended not only lacks the legitimacy that flows from a democratically made constitution but also has proved to be unsuitable for tackling many of the serious challenges confronting our country,” he said.
