Nigeria, a pluralistic country struggling to become a nation — Anyaoku

In a thought provoking observation, Nigeria has been described as a pluralistic country that is still struggling to become a nation with assured stability and socio=economic development.

Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chairman, The Patriots made this known at the ongoing National Constitutional Dialogue.

The dialogue, as at press time, was still ongoing at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos State.

The event is themed: “Lawful procedures for actualising a people’s constitution for Nigeria.”

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The Patriots is a pan-Nigerian group of eminent national leaders of thought.

They are a group of non-partisan political leaders of thought in Nigeria working towards the constitutional equilibrium, political stability, unity and good governance of Nigeria through advocacy for a new people’s constitution to be produced by the elective Constituent Assembly of Nigeria.

Chief Anyaoku, a former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, said the observation is from incontrovertible facts across the world, noting that some of the pluralistic countries have succeeded in becoming a nation, while others failed.

He added that the successful ones became a nation that practiced true federalism with considerable devoted power to federating units.

According to Anyaoku, the incontrovertible facts are known to “the founding fathers of Nigeria who negotiated painstakingly and agreed to the independence constitution of 1960 extending to 1963”.

The former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth observed further that the “present 1999 Constitution as amended not only lacked legitimacy that flows from a democratically made constitution but also has proved to be unsuitable for tackling many of the serious challenges facing the country”.

Anyaoku highlighted that the crucial areas of the country have continued to deteriorate with no efforts or measures to rectify or reduce its effects on the citizens.

The crucial areas listed included security of lives and properties, economic well-being, infrastructure, education and health facilities, social cohesion and values, as well as a sense of national unity.

The Patriots helmsman noted that the 1960 and 1963 constitutions as well as the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference provide the inescapable guide for the build up of the true Nigerian constitution

He stated further: “I believe in this respect, we have only two options: Either we accept the 2014 National Conference as recommended or we go for a relatively inexpensive directly elected Constituent Assembly on a non-party basis for producing such a widely desired constitution.”