A delegation of elder statesmen under the auspices of a group known as the Patriots led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku recently appealed to President Bola Tinubu to convoke a Constituent Assembly that would initiate the process for a new Nigerian constitution.
Chief Anyaoku, speaking on behalf of the group urged the President to send an executive bill to the National Assembly, proposing two measures they believe would help actualise this proposition.
In their opinion, ”convening of a constituent assembly with the mandate to produce a draft people’s democratic constitution” has become imperative. They also said that the constituent assembly should be of directly elected individuals, on a non-political party basis, from the 36 states of the federation, possibly three individuals per state, and one from the FCT.
Anyaoku also said the Patriots proposed legislating a national plebiscite to which the draft constitution emerging from the constituent assembly would be subjected.
”The draft constitution, produced by the constituent assembly, should be put to a national referendum and if approved, then signed by the President as the genuine Nigerian people’s constitution,” he said.
In our view, while the intentions behind this proposal are undoubtedly well-meaning, it fails to address the root causes of Nigeria’s challenges. What the nation truly needs is not another costly constitutional rewrite, but a renewed focus on good governance and effective leadership.
The argument for a new constitution rests on the wrong premise that Nigeria’s current challenges stem from an inappropriate governance structure which a constitution ought to provide. This, in our view, oversimplifies the complex issues facing the nation and ignores the fact that even the most perfectly crafted constitution is only as effective as those who implement it want it to be.
Post-civil war, Nigeria has already undergone multiple constitutional conferences and revisions. The 1978 Constituent Assembly, the 1995 National Constitutional Conference, the 2005 National Political Reform Conference, and the 2014 National Conference have all attempted to address the nation’s structural challenges. Yet, despite these efforts, many of the same issues persist.
There is, therefore, no guarantee that another conference would truly bring about the change we seek.
The proposal for a new Constituent Assembly, with three non-partisan representatives from each state and one from Abuja, bears a striking resemblance to the composition of the existing National Assembly. It is difficult to see how this new body would produce fundamentally different results, especially when considering the potential for political maneuvering and influence that has affected past constitutional efforts.
Moreover, the financial implications of such an undertaking cannot be ignored. At a time when our economy is under severe strain, with millions of Nigerians grappling with poverty and hunger, the enormous expense of another constitutional conference would hardly be justifiable. The resources required for such an endeavor could be better allocated to addressing immediate needs and implementing existing policies more effectively.
It’s worth noting that many of the recommendations from the 2014 National Conference are yet to be fully implemented. Before embarking on a new constitutional journey, it would be prudent to revisit those proposals and consider their potential impact if properly enacted.
The crux of Nigeria’s challenges lies not in the wording of the constitution, but in the quality of leadership and its commitment to good governance. No constitutional arrangement, no matter how meticulously crafted, can compensate for leaders who lack integrity, vision, and the genuine desire to serve their people.
Instead of embarking on another costly and time-consuming constitutional overhaul, Nigeria would be better served if attention is focused on:Strengthening existing institutions to ensure proper checks and balances; implementing comprehensive electoral reforms to enhance the integrity of the democratic process; investing in civic education to foster a more engaged and informed citizenry; prioritization of transparency and accountability in governance at all levels as well as addressing socio-economic inequalities that fuel discontent and instability.
Needless to say , it is true that Nigeria faces significant challenges, including issues of national unity, insecurity, and economic hardship, these problems are not inherently constitutional in nature. They are, more often than not, the result of poor policy choices, inadequate implementation, and a lack of political will to address root causes.
Consequently,while the desire for change is understandable given Nigeria’s myriad challenges, the solution lies not in reinventing the constitution but in reinvigorating the commitment to good governance. The energy and resources that would be expended on a new Constituent Assembly could be more effectively channeled into implementing existing reform recommendations and addressing the nation’s pressing issues.
Nigeria’s path forward requires visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to the rule of law, and a collective effort to build a more just and prosperous society. These goals are achievable within our current constitutional framework.
The country ought to focus on cultivating the political will and ethical leadership necessary for transforming Nigeria’s potential into reality, rather than chasing the mirage of constitutional perfection.
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