Nigerian map
Again, calls for new Nigerian constitution drum up
In a pivotal gathering convened in Lagos, prominent figures spanning elder statesmen, lawmakers, and legal minds have called for the adoption of a new constitution, signalling a critical departure from the incumbent 1999 framework.
At the heart of the discourse was the imperative to tackle the nation’s entrenched security challenges, socio-economic woes, and revive its trajectory towards prosperity and unity.
The National Constitutional Dialogue, organized by The Patriots in honour of the late legal luminary Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, served as a poignant platform for luminaries such as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Obong Victor Attah, and Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to articulate the pressing need for constitutional overhaul.
Converging under the theme “Lawful Procedures for Actualizing a People’s Constitution for Nigeria,” participants stressed the urgency of charting a new constitutional course to surmount the nation’s multifaceted challenges.
Governor Sanwo-Olu pledged collaborative efforts with stakeholders to advance true federalism, highlighting discrepancies between federal directives and local imperatives.
Senator Tambuwal committed to championing the cause within the legislative sphere, recognizing the imperative of legislative innovation to navigate constitutional hurdles.
Former Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Ameachi, emphasized the imperative for decisive action, lamenting the inertia plaguing past discussions on constitutional reform.
Similarly, Aregbesola advocated for a return to the parliamentary system as a remedy to systemic flaws inherent in the current presidential model.
Central to the discourse was the recognition of the 1999 constitution’s inherent deficiencies and its failure to address the evolving needs of a diverse nation.
Chief Ozekhome, in his incisive lecture, stated the procedural flaws surrounding the genesis of the current constitution, emphasizing the imperative for popular consensus in charting a new constitutional trajectory.