President Bola Tinubu has pledged to review a request to convene a national constituent assembly to draft a new constitution
He made this commitment while receiving members of The Patriots, a group of eminent Nigerians, at the State House in Abuja.
The Patriots, led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, appealed to the president to initiate a constitutional review process through a national constituent assembly.
This assembly would comprise directly elected individuals from each state and the FCT, assisted by constitutional lawyers.
The president expressed respect for The Patriots and their contributions to national discourse, acknowledging the longstanding need for constitutional reforms.
He assured them that he would prioritize economic reform first, followed by consideration of constitutional review and other options.
Tinubu also praised the founding members of The Patriots, emphasizing the need for a stable and prosperous Nigeria.
Chief Anyaoku expressed confidence in the president’s ability to lead the constitutional transformation, citing his record as a champion of Nigeria’s struggle for democracy.
“They should be assisted by seven constitutional lawyers, one drawn from each of the six geo-political zones and the FCT. The deliberations of the constituent assembly should take into full account the 1960/63 constitutions, as well as the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference and indeed of the various national conferences that considered the Nigerian constitutions.
“The draft constitution, produced by the constituent assembly, should be put to a national referendum and if approved, should then be signed by the President as the genuine Nigerian people’s constitution,’’ he said.
‘’I have listened to you carefully, and this is not a group that I can ignore. This is a group of patriots reflecting the heart and aspirations of society. I thank all of you for being here.
’I have faced the challenge of this democracy that I inherited from your struggles. I must recognise the fact that these challenges are most required for good governance.
‘’We have no other choice, and I believe also that it is most difficult to manage the twist and turns of democratic governance.
‘’I want to assure all of you that as I listened to your two major requests on the path to referendum and that should lead to constitutional measures that will fit our diversity and governance so that we avoid conflicts and break-ups.
‘’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,’’ the President said.
‘’The avoidance of chaos is necessary to build this country and move its aspirations forward for the benefit of all of us.
‘’I am currently preoccupied with economic reform. That is my first priority. Once this is in place, as soon as possible, I will look at other options, including constitutional review as recommended by you and other options,’’ the president said.
‘’How will Nigeria be governed constitutionally, legitimately without unnecessary aches and pains of its diversity and this needs to be addressed constitutionally, so that we can build a nation that we can proudly hand over a banner without stain to our children,’’ the President said, quoting a line from the second stanza of the National Anthem.
The president told Chief Anyaoku that he would be invited again for a more detailed conversation on the submissions of the Patriot.
‘’As you present this, just believe that it will be reviewed, and I commit myself to the belief that you want a stable and prosperous Nigeria,’’ he said. concluded.
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