Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria’s major challenge lies not in having a perfect constitution but in the failure of those charged with implementing it.
Obasanjo made this assertion on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of a three-day National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy, organised by The Patriots in collaboration with the Nigeria Political Summit Group.
Represented by the Secretary-General of Eminent Patriots, Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, Obasanjo stressed that no constitution is flawless, but that good leadership and responsible governance are critical to a nation’s success.
“No constitution is perfect,” he declared. “From my experience, even the best constitution can be perverted by selfish, corrupt, and unprincipled leaders. What matters most is the quality of the people operating the constitution.”
He warned that Nigeria would remain trapped in underdevelopment if the same kind of leadership that has governed for the past 15 years continues unchecked.
“No matter the amendments made to the constitution, if we keep recycling the same kinds of leaders, the welfare of the citizens will remain sacrificed on the altar of selfishness, impunity, and dishonesty,” Obasanjo said.
He called for a national awakening to hold constitutional operators accountable and ensure governance reflects integrity and the public good.
Also speaking at the summit, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah, criticised the 1999 Constitution, describing it as a “military decree” that lacked the input of the Nigerian people.
Attah, also represented by Okunniyi, stated, “The 1999 Constitution is not the product of a popular, inclusive process. It was imposed by the military and does not reflect the sovereign will of Nigerians.”
He called for the restoration of true federalism and a return to the 1963 Constitution, which he said was the last consensual framework among Nigeria’s diverse peoples.
According to Attah, “Our democracy is no longer functional. Trust in government is eroding because we have moved from a federal system to a highly centralised unitary system that does not serve the people.”
He advocated for a new constitution based on equity, justice, and mutual consent. “We must restructure this country. True federalism must allow maximum autonomy to regions. The current system is unsustainable.”
In his remarks, Senator Gbenga Daniel, who co-chaired the organising committee, said the summit was a “citizen-led constitutional intervention” intended to craft lasting solutions to Nigeria’s structural and governance problems.
Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State and current chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, said the summit would tackle critical national issues including fiscal federalism, electoral reforms, the role of traditional institutions, resource control, local governance, and national security.
“Our goal is to ensure no voice is left out. This is a multi-generational, pan-Nigerian effort that represents the Nigeria we want to build,” he said.
Daniel added that resolutions from the summit would be formally presented to the presidency and the National Assembly, urging constructive collaboration rather than confrontation.
“We must convince our leaders, with facts and reason, that Nigeria urgently needs a new constitutional framework that meets the realities and aspirations of all Nigerians,” he concluded.
The summit continues over the next two days with more deliberations expected from political leaders, civil society actors, youths, and traditional rulers.
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