Ozekhome: Tinubu needs to have the political will to draft a new constitution for Nigeria.

Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to summon the political will necessary to draft a people-centered constitution for the most populous country in Africa.

The human rights attorney was a guest on Sunday Politics on Channels Television. He is a part of The Patriots, a group of distinguished Nigerians that met with the President on Friday at the State House in Abuja. The Patriots are led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

The senior attorney responded, “Well, he should have the political will because these problems will not go away until we tackle them head-on,” when asked if the President has the will to enact a new constitution.

When asked further if a new constitution is a remedy for the problems facing the Nigerian state, such as poverty, insecurity, and other issues, Ozekhome responded, “It is. The killings you witness, the poverty, and the corruption are all signs of a deeper issue that forms the core of our discussion. Once it’s resolved, other arrangements will be made.

Ozekhome said that there was no referendum on the 1999 Constitution and that it was instead imposed by the military. In order to reroute Nigeria’s “journey of no destination,” he claimed, the nation needs an indigenous and people-centered constitution.

He asserts that Nigeria is not a nation. Nigeria is a nation that continues to ache for independence. “We are not one,” he declared. He then on, “The people must have a referendum on the new constitution.”

The senior counsel responded, “We have to have a constituents’ assembly and only the National Assembly can pass a law in that regard,” when asked if Nigeria needed to hold one before adopting a new constitution. After that, Mr. President will sign the proposed constitution, and we will have one.

According to him, “that is how it is going to be” if the populace decides in favor of a unicameral legislature since democracy is decided by the people.

“The Nigerian State’s Engine Knocked”
Ozekhome went on to say that the Nigerian state’s engine—its constitution—has broken and needs to be changed.

“The ruling class must concur. if the vehicle you are operating has a knocked engine. Is this not the engine you ought to inspect? Do you start panel beating the car, paint it a gorgeous color, and get new tires? Will the car move as a result?I’m suggesting that the Nigerian state’s motor is currently knocked, which is causing all of this mistrust between people and intolerance against different religions.

Although he agreed that economic reforms are beneficial, a people-centered constitution should come first. He claimed that in order for Nigeria’s problems to be solved, the National Assembly had to approve a new constitution.

Ozekhome’s remarks came after the 2014 National Conference Report made a number of recommendations, including restructuring, community policing, fiscal federalism, and constitutional reform.

President Goodluck Jonathan and other dignitaries organized the conference ten years ago with the goal of presenting practical recommendations for the country’s advancement.