A distinguished group of Nigerian statesmen, known as The Patriots, has called on President Bola Tinubu to establish a constituent assembly tasked with drafting a “people democratic pluralistic constitution” for Nigeria. This appeal was made during a meeting at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Friday, where the group was led by former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku.
Following the meeting, Anyaoku emphasized the importance of sending an executive bill to the National Assembly that would facilitate a national referendum to validate the proposed constitution. He proposed that a 109-member constituent assembly be elected by the populace on a non-partisan basis to draft the new constitution, suggesting three representatives from each of Nigeria’s 36 states, along with one from the Federal Capital Territory.
Anyaoku asserted that enacting such a referendum is pivotal for granting legitimacy to the new constitution. He argued that Nigeria’s development challenges necessitate a pluralistic constitution and referenced examples from history where countries failed to effectively manage their diversity, leading to disintegration, citing Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Sudan. Conversely, he highlighted how nations like India and Canada have thrived under federal constitutions that embrace their pluralism.
Anyaoku reiterated the need for Nigeria to acknowledge its diverse nature, stating, “Nigeria is a pluralistic country,” and asserted that addressing this diversity through a robust federal constitution is essential for national cohesion.
Additionally, in light of recent #EndBadGovernance protests, The Patriots urged President Tinubu to engage in dialogue with protest leaders and called on law enforcement agencies to refrain from using lethal force against civilians demonstrating their dissent.
