Amid Amendment, Anyaoku-led Group Prefers New Constitution

The Patriots, a group of eminent Nigerian leaders of thought led by former Commonwealth secretary-general Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has insisted on the creation of a new democratic peoples’ Constitution rather than continue with the routine amendment process to the current document.  

They suggested that the 2014 National Confab, 1963 Constitution, Constituent Assembly and National Reconciliation documents be used as focus for the new constitution, adding that a high-powered team be set up to engage the Presidency, National Assembly and Political Leaders on the issue.

The group stated its stand in a communique, signed by its general secretary, Olawale Okunniyi, following its gathering tagged, National Constitutional Dialogue, 2024 which was held in Lagos last week.

Recall that the Patriots hosted a national dialogue (Colloquium) to commemorate 10 years Anniversary of the 2014 National Confab in honour of the late Professor Ben Nwabueze SAN, the immediate past chairman of the group.

The group’s position comes as the National Assembly embarks on the perennial constitution amendment. More so, some elder states like first republic lawmaker, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Chief Edwin Clark, Segun Osoba, Prof Ango Abdullahi have thrown their weights behind a return to parliamentary system of government as proposed by some members of the House of Representatives.   

However, the Patriots’ communique said, “The national dialogue concluded that: the prevailing 1999 Constitution and its brand of presidential system fosters politics of alienation and increasing appetite for state capture amongst the ruling elite to the exclusion of a large section of Nigerian citizens; leading to disenchantment across the country, while also asserting that the constitution, by its flawed origin, lacks legitimacy, which it cannot acquire from any number of amendments. 

“The dialogue also affirmed that the Draft constitution of the 2014 National Conference and the 1963 Republican Constitution of Nigeria, by their representative and popular character, are generally acceptable national documents as platforms for popular deliberations and consensual recommendations towards birthing a new democratic people’s constitution for Nigeria through an elective Constituents Assembly or national referendum to be initiated by the federal government through relevant provisions of the extant laws of Nigeria. 

“Finally, the dialogue resolved that, to move forward the renewed advocacy for the actualisation of a new democratic constitution for Nigeria, an inclusive Team be set up by The Patriots to embark on strategic and constructive engagements with the Nigerian peoples and citizens, the Presidency and National Assembly of Nigeria for their full buy in and support towards achieving the dialogue agenda for the cohesion, stability, good governance and prosperity of Nigeria under a new democratic people’s constitution of Nigeria,” the communique added. 

It added that after a long and robust deliberation, the colloquium requested that the following consensual conclusions and recommendations be submitted to the Presidency and the National Assembly for their expeditious consideration and appropriate action.

The listed the action to include, “ Genuine commitment to ending the culture of political impunity which engenders corruption, promotes monetization of politics and undermines competence and commitment to patriotism.

“Urgent holistic appraisal of the security situation in Nigeria to engender decisive and robust intervention in the pervasive insecurity ravaging the country.

“Reform of existing security infrastructure through the creation of state police and localisation of Police command structure to enhance inclusive participation in community and neighbourhood security across Nigeria.

“Reconfiguration of the country’s governance system and structure to address the imbalance in the existing federalism in order to guarantee fiscal responsibility and accountability in governance as well as enhance accelerated development across Nigeria.

 “Strengthening of existing democratic institutions to safeguard democracy, guarantee pro-people governance and make political actors accountable to the people.

 “Deepening of democracy and governance at the grassroots to give a sense of belonging to the mass of Nigerian stakeholders.”

The dialogue, which, according to the communique, focused on a prosperous future for Nigeria through the prospects of a new democratic people’s constitution, had in attendance, ellder statemen, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former governors, serving and former lawmakers, former ministers. 

Others were traditional rulers, constitutional lawyers, delegates to previous Constitutional Confabs, leaders of thought, scholars, other members of the Nigerian public and the organisers.