Why Tinubu Believes a New Constitution is Not Necessary Now
Presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale shared President Bola Tinubu’s stance on the idea of creating a new Constitution during a meeting with a group of elder statesmen known as The Patriots, led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, at the State House in Abuja.
Ngelale quoted President Tinubu as saying that his main focus right now is on economic reform. He emphasized that once the economic reforms are established, he will consider other matters, including the possibility of a constitutional review, as suggested by The Patriots.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, had asked President Tinubu to propose two actions to the National Assembly.
The first was to form a National Constituent Assembly made up of elected individuals from each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who would work on drafting a new People’s Democratic Constitution.
This assembly would also be supported by seven constitutional lawyers representing each geo-political zone and the FCT.
The assembly’s work should consider past constitutions and the recommendations from previous national conferences, including the 2014 National Conference.
Anyaoku also recommended that the draft Constitution produced by this assembly be subjected to a national referendum. If approved, it should be signed by the President as Nigeria’s official Constitution.
In response, President Tinubu expressed his respect for The Patriots and their dedication to the country. He acknowledged their efforts and noted that he couldn’t ignore their concerns.
He also recognized the difficulties of managing a diverse democracy and emphasized his commitment to unity and good governance.
Tinubu highlighted that constitutional reform has been a long-standing issue in Nigeria and referred to examples of pluralistic countries like Canada and India, which have successfully maintained unity by addressing diversity through their constitutions.
He reiterated that while his current priority is economic reform, he would eventually address the need for constitutional changes to ensure that Nigeria can be governed effectively, respecting its diversity and avoiding conflict.
President Tinubu concluded by assuring The Patriots that their proposals would be reviewed, and he reaffirmed his commitment to building a stable and prosperous Nigeria for future generations.
