President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing economic reform as he welcomed “The Patriots,” a distinguished group of Nigerian leaders, at the State House in Abuja on Friday.
Led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, the group proposed convening a national constituent assembly to draft a new “people’s democratic constitution.”
Chief Anyaoku, speaking on behalf of The Patriots, urged the President to consider sending an executive bill to the National Assembly that would establish a constituent assembly. This body would be tasked with producing a draft constitution, drawing from previous constitutional recommendations, including those from the 1960/63 constitutions and the 2014 National Conference. The group also called for a national referendum to approve the draft constitution before it is signed into law by the President.
In response, President Tinubu expressed deep respect for The Patriots and their contributions to national dialogue. He acknowledged the challenges of governing a diverse nation like Nigeria and stressed the importance of unity and good governance.
“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,” President Tinubu stated. He assured the group that their proposals would be reviewed, but emphasized that his immediate focus remains on economic reform, which he views as crucial to the nation’s stability and development.
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President Tinubu recognized the longstanding calls for constitutional reform and noted the examples of pluralistic countries like Canada and India, which have maintained unity by addressing their diversity through constitutional measures. He acknowledged that Nigeria’s constitutional governance must be refined to manage the country’s diversity and avoid conflicts.
“The avoidance of chaos is necessary to build this country and move its aspirations forward for the benefit of all of us,” the President said. He promised to consider the proposal for a new constitution once economic reforms are in place.
During the meeting, President Tinubu also paid tribute to the late Chief Rotimi Williams, SAN, and Professor Ben Nwabueze, founding members of The Patriots, for their unwavering belief in Nigeria’s unity and progress.
Chief Anyaoku, in his remarks, expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s ability to lead Nigeria through constitutional transformation, citing his record as a champion of democracy. He highlighted that The Patriots had previously organized a colloquium in March 2024, where it was unanimously agreed that Nigeria needs a new people’s constitution.
President Tinubu concluded by inviting Chief Anyaoku and The Patriots for a more detailed discussion on their proposals, reaffirming his commitment to building a stable and prosperous Nigeria.
