Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku has emphasized the imperative for Nigeria to abandon the 1999 constitution, citing its lack of legitimacy and inadequacy in addressing the nation’s diverse cultural landscape. During a national constitutional dialogue honoring Prof Ben Nwabueze, Anyaoku advocated for adopting either the recommendations of the 2014 national conference or convening a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution.
Noting Nigeria’s pluralistic nature and ongoing struggles to coalesce as a unified nation, Anyaoku underscored the deficiencies of the current constitution in addressing critical issues such as security, economic prosperity, and infrastructure development. He urged for a constitutional framework that reflects the aspirations and realities of Nigeria’s diverse population.
The dialogue, attended by prominent figures including political leaders, legal experts, and governors, served as a platform to deliberate on the country’s constitutional future. Anyaoku outlined two viable options for reform: embracing the proposals from the 2014 national conference or establishing a constituent assembly through a multi-party consensus to facilitate the development of a new constitution.
IMAGE: Thisdaystyle
