National Dialogue: Only a new constitution can save Nigeria from socio-economic, political miseries
By Oswald Agwu
A group of eminent Nigerians under the aegis of ‘The Patriots’ has advocated for a brand new, citizens’ originated constitution as the panacea to the socio-political challenges in Nigeria.
The group raised the concern in a national dialogue/Colloquim to commemorate the10th Anniversary of the 2014 National Conference, popularly known as 2014 Confab.
The event hosted by the group in honour of the late Professor Ben Nwabueze, was held at the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos, Nigeria.
Nwabueze was the immediate past chairman of the Patriots and the chief protagonist of the 2014 Confab.
The group observed that continuous amendments based on the 1999 constitution cannot provide the needed answers to the many challenges of the country, stressing that the constitution itself was lacking in legitimacy.
In a Press Release, dated 24th March 2024, and signed by the group’s General secretary, Olawale Okunniyi, and made available to Century Post, the group maintained that only a new democratic people’s constitution would offer assured hope and prosperity to the diverse peoples and citizens of Nigeria in the face of the current socio economic miseries, political instability and worsening insecurity.
They maintained that rather than the 1999 constitution, the draft 2014 Confab and the 1963 Republican Constitution of Nigeria should form the reference for a new constitution capable of addressing national issues and discontents.
The release reads in part: “The national dialogue concluded that: the prevailing 1999 Constitution and its brand of presidential system fosters politics of alienation and increasing appetite for state capture amongst the ruling elite to the exclusion of a large section of Nigerian citizens; leading to disenchantment across the country, while also asserting that the constitution, by its flawed origin, lacks legitimacy, which it cannot acquire from any number of amendments.
“The dialogue also affirmed that the Draft constitution of the 2014 National Conference and the 1963 Republican Constitution of Nigeria, by their representative and popular character, are generally acceptable national documents as platforms for popular deliberations and consensual recommendations towards birthing a new democratic people’s constitution for Nigeria through an elective Constituent Assembly or national referendum to be initiated by the federal government through relevant provisions of the extant laws of Nigeria.”
The Patriots called on the Presidency to as a matter of urgency fashion out strategies to end the culture of political impunity from the ruling class as well as strengthen democratic institutions and combat insecurity.
The Patriots further resolved to set up an inclusive team to embark on strategic and constructive engagements towards securing the buy-in and support of the Nigerian peoples and citizens, the Presidency and the National Assembly in achieving the dialogue agenda for the cohesion, stability, good governance and prosperity of Nigeria under a new democratic people’s constitution.
Participants at the national dialogue comprised many prominent Nigerians including former Governors, serving and ex-Senators, former Ministers, traditional rulers, constitutional lawyers, some delegates to previous Constitutional conferences in Nigeria; Leaders of thought and scholars, among others.
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was also in attendance and participated in the dialogue.
Keynote address for the dialogue was delivered by Professor Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
