Reflecting on the 1999 constitution, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, a respected legal scholar and participant in the National Constitutional Dialogue, criticized its failure to adequately protect the interests of minority Nigerians.
Following his participation in the colloquium dubbed “National Dialogue on the Future of Nigeria,” Abayomi disclosed this information, shedding light on discussions held at the event hosted at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos State.
The lawyer, interviewed on Arise TV’s Morning Show program on Tuesday, asserted that the constitution is inherently against the interests of the people and must be promptly reassessed to better serve Nigerians.
He said, “If we enhance the concept of ‘Nigerianity’. We can build a great nation. There’s no country without minority sects, but the law takes care of them. Every nation, to a certain extent, is diverse, but the individuals are taken care of by the law.
“Once you have a law that protects the rights of citizens, you don’t have to worry about the minority. The whole essence of the commissions is to ensure the protection of the citizens.
“The problem we have in Nigeria today is that we don’t have a constitution of the people. A constitution where a minority will say that these are the issues that are troubling us.”
Referencing the influential Senegalese thinker Leopold Senghor, Abayomi proposed a remedy for Nigeria’s enduring constitutional dilemmas, advocating for a nationwide forum akin to a universal banquet to forge consensus on our shared unity.
“We have never sat to agree on our terms of unity before. Lancaster was like a writ of summons (an official order for someone to appear in a court of law when they have been accused of committing an offence against someone). And then after Lancaster, we now ran into military that imposed the constitution, ” he added.
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Furthermore, the lawyer urged for the amalgamation into a federating unit, stressing the imperative of seeking input from the Nigerian populace regarding the configuration of the country’s constitution.
Africa Today News, New York, reports that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, joined former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former governors, notable diplomats, legal practitioners and other elder statesmen to demand a change in Nigeria’s Constitution.
The colloquium was held in honour of the late legal luminary, Prof Ben Nwabueze.
In attendance were former Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Victor Attah; ex-Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke; former Sokoto Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; representative of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adewunmi Olayigbade; Leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo; a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and ex-Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Others included former Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; ex-Minister of Finance, Kalu Idika Kalu; former Governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola; former Military Governor of Ondo State and former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Olabode George, ex-Delta Governor, James Ibori; pioneer Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Prof Anya O. Anya; and the keynote speaker, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN).