Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has called on President Bola Tinubu to convene a National Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution for Nigeria.
Anyaoku, who also serves as the Chairman of The Patriots, made this proposal during a meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja.
Anyaoku revealed that the proposal was one of several recommendations put forward during the discussion, urging President Tinubu to submit an executive bill to the National Assembly.
According to Anyaoku, this bill should initiate two critical measures aimed at addressing Nigeria’s constitutional challenges.
“We put some proposals to Mr. President and urged him to send a president’s executive bill to the National Assembly—a bill that will call for two essential measures,” Anyaoku stated.
He explained that the proposed National Constituent Assembly would consist of individuals elected by the people on a non-party basis. Specifically, each of the 36 states would elect three representatives, while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would elect one.
“The assembly should be mandated to produce a new draft constitution,” Anyaoku emphasized.
“This draft should then be subjected to a national referendum, as current laws do not provide for such a process. This would give the Nigerian people the opportunity to determine their new constitution.”
In addition to the constitutional proposal, Anyaoku also addressed the ongoing protests across the country, advising the President on how to manage the situation.
He urged the government, both at the federal and state levels, to engage in dialogue with the leaders of the protests, emphasizing the importance of non-violent communication.
“The government should take the initiative in dialogue with the leaders of the protests,” Anyaoku said.
“Furthermore, we advised that law enforcement agencies, including the police and the army, should avoid using lethal weapons in managing the protests. This is to prevent casualties and ensure that law enforcement does not exacerbate the situation.”
Anyaoku’s recommendations come at a time when Nigeria is facing significant political and social challenges, and his call for a new constitution reflects a broader demand for systemic change in the country.
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