Victor EzejaPerturbed by the persisiting socioeconomic challenges in Nigeria, a non-partisan group, Eminent Leaders Group of The Patriots has called for a new constitution to address problems of governance in the country.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, the new leader of the group, and former Secretary General of the Common Wealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who spoke on behalf of the group, said the harsh realities in the country today such as insecurity of life and property, increasing poverty and unemployment affecting the citizens has made it imperative for an urgent pragmatic actions to be taken to restructure the federation which requires having a new constitution that is people-orriented.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe group called on President Bola Tinubu, whom they said they have recognised the legitimacy of his office as affirmed by the recent Supreme Court judgement, to take urgent necessary steps to address the constitutional crisis.
The group also higlighted declining sense of national unity, rising wave of unemployment, especially among the youth, as other challenges plaguing the country which must fundamentally be addressed.
The group said: “We accept the reality of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration whose legitimacy derives from the judgement of the highest judiciary court in our land on the country’s 2023 national elections.
“We are very concerned at the current lamentable state of affairs in our country including the declining sense of national unity, the insecurity of life and property, the increasing poverty and unemployment afflicting our citizens, especially the youth.
“Experience over the last 30 years has shown that despite the declared best intentions of our governments, Nigeria’s unity, internal security and economy have continued to deteriorate.”
They argued that the problem of the country can only be solved once and for all by drafting and bring into existence a new federal constitution that would address all forms of governance challenges.
“In our view, the reason is that our governments have continued to scratch the surface instead of addressing the fundamental issue of the governance system which flows from the constitution of the country.”
It said Tinubu has an opportunity and responsibility as president to fix the fundamental problems and should not gloss over them like past leaders.
“If he (Tinubu), like the previous governments makes the mistake of avoiding to effect the necessary fundamental change by bringing in a new people’s constitution, Nigeria will inevitably continue its present dangerous decline,” the group warned, adding that “Only a truly Federal Constitution as was agreed by Nigeria’s founding fathers will give the country a chance of tackling its current challenges effectively.”
They also paid tribute to past leaders of the group such as Professor Ben Nwabueze SAN who passed on last week and Chief Rotimi Williams SAN in whose Chambers they met, adding that they are bound by love for the country, Nigeria, and a shared desire to have a united, stable and progressive nation that cares for the welfare of its citizens.
Anyaoku said President Tinubu should take the initiative to convene a national constituent assembly to be made up of representatives directly elected on a nonpartisan basis, who should be given the task of discussing and deciding the new constitution, taking into account the 1960 and 1963 constitutions as well as the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.
“The constituent assembly should take all of these into account when drafting a new constitution, and that new constitution should be put to a referendum and once the majority of our citizens approve it, the president should sign it and it will be truly and correctly described as Nigerian people’s constitution,” Anyaoku recommended.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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