By Abiola Olawale
Renowned Nigerian Diplomat and the first African to serve as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has called for a transformative overhaul of Nigeria’s governance framework, advocating for a “People’s Democratic Constitution” to address the nation’s mounting challenges.
Speaking at a national Conference organised by The Patriots and Nigerian Political Summit Group on Wednesday in Abuja, Anyaoku underscored the urgent need for a new constitutional framework that truly represents the aspirations of the Nigerian people.
Anyaoku, who was also Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister during the Second Republic, criticized the 1999 Constitution, describing it as lacking democratic legitimacy and failing to accommodate Nigeria’s pluralistic society.
He said: “As a background to this summit, it is important to state the following indisputable facts that are recognised by all citizens, except, of course, those who want to continue to live in denial.
“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 such. It was not democratically formulated. It was, instead, 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 induces 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.”
Anyaoku also proposed the establishment of a National Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution, suggesting a representation model of three individuals per state across Nigeria’s 36 states, plus one from the Federal Capital Territory.
He further advocated for the National Assembly to legislate provisions for a national referendum, allowing Nigerians to directly approve the new constitution.
“The draft constitution emerging from the Constituent Assembly should be subjected to a national referendum to give the people of Nigeria a chance to determine their future,” he added.
