Political bigwigs, elder statesmen, Sanwo-Olu agree on new constitution

By Adeola Ogunrinde

The governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, along with esteemed national figures such as former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and Afenifere chieftain, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo, gathered with members of the National Assembly, former governors, and other prominent leaders to advocate for a new Nigerian Constitution that embodies true federalism and tackles the country’s challenges.

They emphasized two pathways to achieve this: either by adopting the recommendations of the 2014 National Confab or convening a relatively cost-effective Constituent Assembly on a non-partisan basis to draft a constitution that aligns with the aspirations of Nigerians.

The call for constitutional reform was made during the National Constitutional Dialogue organized by The Patriots, a group of eminent national leaders of thought, in honor of the late constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze.

Sanwo-Olu and other dignitaries shared their perspectives on ‘Lawful procedures for actualizing a People’s Constitution for Nigeria’ at the event held in Lagos.

The gathering saw the presence of notable figures such as Chief Anyaoku, Pa Adebanjo, Senators Aminu Tambuwal and Gbenga Daniel, as well as former governors including Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Amaechi, Ibikunle Amosun, Donald Duke, James Ibori, Victor Attah, and Rauf Aregbesola.

Constitutional lawyers Chief Mike Ozekhome and Mr. Tunji Abayomi, President of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum Alhaji Yerima Shettima, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Chief Olabode George, and other leaders and activists also attended.

Governor Sanwo-Olu affirmed the need for a truly federal constitution that decentralizes power to the states, urging the National Assembly to establish a legal framework for a constitution determined by the Nigerian people. He stressed the importance of advancing the conversation and translating it into concrete action, emphasizing that the responsibility lies with the National Assembly to facilitate the necessary amendments through public participation.

“I stand here as a leader of the largest state. How well do we see the anomalies that we have in our country? Why would a federal agency come to control the water in front of Ozumba Mbadiwe? Why would a federal agency of 1,000 kilometers away come to see the needs of my people in Ozumba Mbadiwe?

“Those are some of the things that we need to take forward and say that indeed we need to have a true federating state and be able to amend this constitution.

“I am a willing convert. Whatever we need to do now, there are so many serving and former governors here, let us make the changes that we desire and let the soul of Prof. Ben Nwabueze rest in peace because this is something that he fought for over 60 years of his life. And we are still here talking about it.

“We have the opportunity to make those changes now and I stand here to say to you that we are willing to work with you to make those changes,” he said.

In his remarks, Anyaoku advocated for the establishment of a Constituent Assembly to oversee the creation of a new constitution, citing the inadequacy of the current 1999 constitution in addressing Nigeria’s diverse landscape.

As the Chairman of The Patriots, Anyaoku emphasized that the existing constitution lacked the legitimacy required for a country as diverse as Nigeria and urged for the adoption of either the recommendations from the 2014 national conference or the organization of a cost-effective Constituent Assembly.

According to him, the assembly should operate on a nonpartisan basis to ensure the development of a genuinely federal constitution tailored to Nigeria’s needs.

He said: “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. It is a widely recognised fact that the crucial areas of the country have significantly deteriorated and continue to deteriorate.”
Elder statesman and prominent Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in his remarks, advocated for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference, citing its inclusive representation of Nigeria’s diverse population and their aspirations for governance.

Adebanjo stressed the necessity for a completely new constitution rather than mere amendments to the existing one, a path currently pursued by the National Assembly.

He further emphasized that Nigeria required a fresh constitutional framework that reflects the collective vision of its people, as demonstrated by the participants from various regions in the 2014 conference.