The Emeka Anyaoku-led group of eminent Nigerians, known as The Patriots, has inaugurated an Advocacy Committee for the Actualization of the People’s Constitution. This 17-member committee is chaired by a revered political economist and professor of strategy and development, Prof. Anthony Kila.
The committee’s mandate is to engage with major stakeholders and the public across Nigeria. Speaking at the inauguration, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations and leader of The Patriots, emphasized that the committee will reach out to various sectors, including the National Assembly.
The inauguration, held in Lagos and online, was attended by key members of The Patriots, including General Ike Nwachukwu, Obong Victor Attah, and others.
In his acceptance speech, Prof. Kila pledged to inform, engage, and gather input from the public, and announced plans to interact with the National Assembly, traditional leaders, students, and corporate Nigeria.
The committee includes Senator Shehu Sanni, Dr. Bilikisu Magoro – executive secretary, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, Dr Otive Igbuzor, Mr Samson Itodo, Madu Bright O. Alwell, Ms Ann Kio Briggs, Mr Fafa Dan Princewill, Mr Zaka Bala, Mr Kayode Samuel, Barr Affiong L Affiong, Mr Salvation Alibor.
It will be recalled that the Patriots recently visited President Bola Tinubu to ask him to make a case for people’s democratic constitution.
A Peoples Constitution
Speaking at a hybrid event in Lagos, the group’s Chairman, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, emphasized the importance of adopting a new democratic constitution to address the complex challenges facing Nigeria, a pluralistic country.
He stressed that a federal constitution is essential for tackling issues like insecurity, banditry, and kidnapping.
He also noted that this constitution would help prevent the disintegration of Nigeria; “Nigeria needs a federal constitution that tackles all the challenges we are having like insecurity, banditry, kidnapping and others faced by the people. Nigeria as a pluralistic country needs this constitution to prevent it from disintegrating like other nations that have diverse attributes of a pluralistic state and later disintegrated. Countries like Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Susan.”
While not advocating for a return to regional government, Anyaoku highlighted the need for a constitution that protects and unites Nigerians, as the current one has significant flaws.
