President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has assured a prominent group of Nigerian leaders, known as The Patriots, that their request for a National Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution will be carefully reviewed.
This was disclosed during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where Tinubu emphasized that strengthening Nigeria’s economy remains his top priority.
The Patriots, led by former Commonwealth General Secretary Chief Emeka Anyaoku, urged the President to send an executive bill to the National Assembly.
Their proposal includes convening a national constituent assembly tasked with producing a draft democratic constitution for Nigeria. “The constituent assembly should consist of directly elected individuals from each state and the Federal Capital Territory, along with a team of constitutional lawyers from various geopolitical zones,” Anyaoku explained.
In response, President Tinubu expressed his commitment to the group’s cause, stating, “As you present this, just believe that it will be reviewed. I commit myself to the belief that you want a stable and prosperous Nigeria.” He acknowledged the challenges of managing the country’s democratic system and emphasized the importance of unity and good governance.
The President also paid tribute to the founding members of The Patriots, including Chief Rotimi Williams and Professor Ben Nwabueze, highlighting their dedication to Nigeria’s democratic development. He noted that while economic reforms are his immediate focus, he will consider the constitutional review recommended by The Patriots in due course.
“I believe in the unity of this country, and I want to assure you that whatever is necessary to put happiness and good governance in the hands of all Nigerians is what I would do,” Tinubu said. He further recognized the need for constitutional measures that reflect Nigeria’s diversity and prevent conflicts, drawing on examples from other pluralistic nations like Canada and India.
Chief Anyaoku expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership, citing his record as a champion of Nigeria’s democratic struggle. He reiterated the need for a new people’s constitution, which was unanimously agreed upon during a colloquium organized by The Patriots earlier this year.
