President Bola Tinubu has pledged to review the request for a new constitution, a proposal put forward by The Patriots, a group of distinguished individuals led by former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
The request was made during the group’s visit to the President in Abuja on Friday.
In response, President Tinubu underscored that retooling the economy for sustainable growth and development is a top priority for his administration. However, he assured the group that their request for convening a national constituent assembly to draft a new constitution would be taken into serious consideration.
Speaking on behalf of The Patriots, Chief Anyaoku urged the President to send an executive bill to the National Assembly, proposing two key measures: the formation of a national constituent assembly tasked with drafting a new “people’s democratic constitution” and the implementation of a national referendum on the resulting draft.
Anyaoku emphasized that the constituent assembly should be composed of directly elected representatives from each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), supported by constitutional lawyers representing the six geo-political zones and the FCT.
Chief Anyaoku also suggested that the assembly’s deliberations consider the 1960/63 constitutions, as well as recommendations from the 2014 National Conference and other previous constitutional reviews.
He proposed that the draft constitution produced by the assembly should be subjected to a national referendum and, if approved, be signed by the President as Nigeria’s “genuine people’s constitution.”
President Tinubu expressed his respect for The Patriots and their significant contributions to national discourse.He acknowledged the challenges of democratic governance, affirming his commitment to unity and good governance.
“I believe in the unity of this country,” he stated, adding that he would do whatever is necessary to ensure happiness and effective governance for all Nigerians.
The President also recognized that the demand for constitutional reforms has long been a critical issue in Nigeria.
He cited examples of pluralistic countries like Canada and India, which have maintained unity by addressing diversity through their constitutions.
Tinubu emphasized the importance of avoiding chaos to move the country forward and indicated that, while his immediate focus is on economic reforms, he would consider constitutional review in due course.
During the meeting, President Tinubu paid tribute to Chief Rotimi Williams, SAN, the founding chairman of The Patriots, and his successor, Professor Ben Nwabueze, praising their unwavering belief in Nigeria.
He acknowledged the importance of addressing constitutional questions to ensure a stable and prosperous future for the nation.
Tinubu assured Chief Anyaoku that he would be invited for further discussions on the group’s proposals, reiterating his commitment to a stable and prosperous Nigeria.
In his remarks, Chief Anyaoku highlighted the outcome of a colloquium organized by The Patriots in March 2024, where it was unanimously agreed that Nigeria requires a new people’s constitution.
He expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s ability to lead this constitutional transformation, citing his distinguished record as a champion of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
