In developing reports, some Nigerian leaders collectively agree that to address the core challenges of the country, a new and legitimate constitution should be enacted. Former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, among others, believed continued whitewash of the 1999 Constitution amounted to a waste of effort. It will not guarantee the progress that Nigerians crave, they said. Lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, echoed a similar view, stressing, “One million amendments of the 1999 Constitution will never work.” Ozekhome said, “An illegitimate document remains illegitimate forever.” The leaders spoke yesterday in Lagos at a national dialogue on the constitutional future of Nigeria in honour of renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze. Anyaoku called for a “new legitimate constitution” to arrest the current deterioration in virtually every aspect of the country’s existence.
Anyaoku’s views were supported by Sanwo-Olu, Adebanjo, members of the National Assembly, former governors, and eminent national leaders, who also demanded a new Nigerian constitution that would reflect true federalism and address the problems of the country. They said Nigeria had two options in trying to get a truly federal constitution: either adopting the recommendations of the 2014 national confab or going for a relatively inexpensive Constituent. Assembly on a non-party basis to produce a widely acceptable constitution for Nigerians. Chairman of the Patriots, Anyaoku, said Nigeria was a pluralistic country, which had failed to develop like other pluralistic countries in the world that had succeeded by devolving powers to the federating units. He cited examples of pluralistic countries, such as Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Sudan, which broke up due to issues bordering on a lack of true federalism. The former Commonwealth secretary-general said for Nigeria to get a truly federal constitution it should either adopt the recommendations of the 2014 national conferences.
