….As Patriots push for constitutional overhaul
Eminent statesman and former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has issued a stark warning that Nigeria must urgently restructure its governance system and return to a “truly federal constitution” to avoid disintegration.
Speaking in Abuja after a three-day summit convened by The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen advocating constitutional reform, Anyaoku stressed that the current 1999 constitution is unsustainable for a diverse nation like Nigeria.
“The Patriots are very concerned about the state of affairs in our pluralistic country, Nigeria,” Anyaoku said. “Experience all over the world has shown that pluralistic countries that have survived as political entities are those that operate truly federal constitutions.
Those pluralistic countries that failed to operate truly federal constitutions have largely disintegrated.” He cited the collapse of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia as cautionary examples while pointing to India and Canada as successful models of federalism.
The summit, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group, produced far-reaching recommendations aimed at addressing Nigeria’s deepening crises—from insecurity and poverty to political instability. Central to their proposal is the call for a new constitution drafted by a constituent assembly and ratified by a national referendum.
“The present 1999 constitution is not suited to the needs of a pluralistic country like Nigeria,” Anyaoku insisted. “It lacks legitimacy because it was not drafted by the representatives of the people, nor was it endorsed by the Nigerian people.”
Among the key proposals is a return to a governance structure resembling Nigeria’s 1963 constitution, which granted significant autonomy to regional governments.
The Patriots recommended devolving powers to federating units, establishing state police, and reducing the cost of governance by streamlining the legislature. “At the moment, the legislature we have is unsustainably expensive,” Anyaoku noted. “It involves the expenditure of over 70 percent of national revenue on recurring expenditure and debt servicing.”
The group also called for a clear separation between the offices of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice to depoliticise the judiciary. “The Attorney-General should be an appointee on a non-partisan basis, as against the Minister of Justice, who would be appointed on a party basis,” Anyaoku explained.
Additionally, they proposed sweeping electoral reforms, including same-day elections, mandatory electronic transmission of results, and independent candidacy. “We think elections should be held on the same day because the current practice of staggered elections is very expensive and prone to corruption,” he said.
On the contentious issue of political defections, the Patriots demanded stricter enforcement of anti-defection laws. “Once a person decides to defect to another party, that seat should automatically be declared vacant,” Anyaoku stated. The group also advocated for Nigerians in the diaspora to be granted voting rights, given their substantial financial contributions through remittances.
Security was another critical concern, with Anyaoku revealing shocking statistics: “Between May 2023 and April 2024 alone, as many as 614,937 Nigerians were killed due to insecurity.”
To address this, the summit proposed a revamped security architecture, including coastal and border forces to curb the influx of armed groups from neighbouring regions. Crucially, they endorsed state police, arguing that sub-national governments must have the power to manage their own security.
The Patriots further emphasised the need for fiscal federalism, allowing states to control their resources and generate revenue independently. “There is no part of this country that is not endowed with resources,” Anyaoku said. “If properly harnessed, they can drive development and improve citizens’ welfare.”
While the recommendations are ambitious, Anyaoku expressed hope that President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly would act swiftly. The group plans to submit its report to the presidency and lawmakers, urging the government to initiate an executive bill for a constituent assembly. Failure to act, Anyaoku warned, could have dire consequences. “Nigeria needs to return to the truly federal constitution that began its independence journey—otherwise, the risks of further instability and fragmentation will only grow.”
The call for restructuring is not new, but the urgency in Anyaoku’s tone reflects growing anxiety over Nigeria’s future. With rising violence, economic hardship, and regional tensions, the Patriots’ proposals present a roadmap for reform—if political leaders have the will to listen.
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