Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary-general of the Commonwealth,
says the 1999 constitution lacks legitimacy and must be replaced through a
national referendum.
Anyaoku spoke on Friday in Abuja at a national summit
organised by The Patriots and the Nigerian Political Summit Group.
He said the constitution currently in use was imposed on the
country by the military and does not reflect the Nigeria’s diverse character.
“As a background to this summit, it is important to state
the following indisputable facts, recognised by all citizens—except, of course,
those who choose to remain in denial,” he said.
“Nigeria is a pluralistic country. Like all successful
pluralistic countries around the world, for its political stability and maximal
development, its constitution must address its pluralism by being formulated by
elected representatives of its diverse peoples.
“Our present 1999 constitution (as amended) is not one. It
was not democratically formulated. Instead, it was imposed on the country
through a decree by the military administration.
“And the governance system derived from it is not only
non-inclusive but also results in the over-expenditure of the country’s
resources on administration rather than on capital development. Hence, the need
for a new Nigerian people’s democratic constitution.”
The elder statesman said widespread insecurity, deepening
poverty, weak infrastructure, and loss of hope among the youth make
constitutional change inevitable.
He added that these national challenges can be reversed if
the country adopts a truly federal and democratic constitution drawn up by the
people.
“Overall, the present 36 federating units are obviously
incapable of generating and sustaining the pace of national development
achieved in the early years of the country’s independence,” he said.
“To those who say that the fate of a country depends primarily
on its leadership, I say that the constitution, from which the system of
governance is derived, largely determines the character of the people who get
elected or appointed to govern the country through the three arms of
government.”
The former secretary-general of the Commonwealth said the
summit would come up with proposals on the core features of the new
constitution and how it should be actualised.
He listed key issues for review to include the choice
between a presidential or parliamentary system, rotation and tenure of
political leaders, and whether the legislature should be unicameral or
bicameral.
Anyaoku added that a national referendum must be held to
confer legitimacy on the new constitution.
“In considering the process of actualising the new
constitution, I hope that there would be due emphasis on ensuring that it is
formulated by representatives specifically elected for that purpose by the
Nigerian people,” he said.
“And after it has formulated the new constitution, it should
be submitted to the people of Nigeria in a national referendum.
“And it is the endorsement of the new constitution in a
national referendum that will confer legitimacy on it, unlike the 1999
constitution, which lacks legitimacy because it was not drafted by
representatives of the people, nor was it endorsed by the Nigerian people.”
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