Too many things are agitating the minds of Nigerians right now. While some citizens are daily being crushed by excruciating hunger, some are being mauled down by bandits and other insurgents. Some privileged Nigerians are bothered by faulty constitution, and despite his controversial eight years on the power stool, Muhammadu Buhari is not in a haste to detach himself from the psyche of Nigerians.
He was at the Council of State meeting the other day. But why? ‘The Patriots’ and cry for new Constitution Last Friday, a group of eminent Nigerians, led by Emeka Anyaoku, were at the Presidential Villa to make a number of requests. Top on their list was the need for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently convene a National Constituent Assembly to produce a people’s democratic constitution for the country.
The visit was born out of a genuine desire to enthrone a new Nigeria. The distinguished group had watched as the country’s fault lines continued to expand. They feared that if nothing was done urgently, Nigeria may cease to exist as an entity someday.
Citing the cases of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, which have since gone their separate ways after existing as an entity for over 100 years, the Patriots believed that a new constitution could save the day for Nigeria. While a new constitution is desirable considering the inconsistencies and the oft-repeated allegation that it is not the people’s document, the major challenge that has bedevilled the country is the inability.