Nigeria needs people-centred constitution, Anyaoku-led group tells Tinubu

Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, has urged President Bola Tinubu to convene a constituent assembly to draft a people-centred constitution for the country.

Anyaoku spoke on Friday after leading The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen, to a meeting with Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.

He cited countries such as Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Sudan that broke up over the poor management of their diversities.

“Nigeria needs a people’s democratic constitution,” Anyaoku told State House correspondents.

“Pluralistic countries exist all over the world. Those of them who addressed their pluralism by having true federal constitutions have survived. An example is India and Canada.

“But those pluralistic countries that failed to address their basic challenge of pluralism through the federal constitution have ended up disintegrating.”

Anyaoku said he urged the president to submit an executive bill to the national assembly for a national referendum that will approve the draft constitution.

Citing gaps in the current constitution, the elder statesman said the framework does not make for effective internal security measures, rapid economic development, and satisfactory social development.

“I believe that the new constitution would make it easier for these challenges to be tackled,” he said.

Anyaoku said the national constituent assembly should comprise individuals elected by the people on a non-party basis to ensure inclusion.

He said Tinubu assured that his administration would consider the suggestion of The Patriots.