President Bola Tinubu says he is currently preoccupied with economic reforms and not constitutional amendment as being demanded by Nigerians across the six geo political zones.
Tinubu stated this while responding to the request for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to save Nigeria from collapse by The Patriots led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
“I am currently preoccupied with economic reform.
“That is my first priority. Once this is in place, as soon as possible, I will look at other options, including constitutional review as recommended by you and other options,” the President said.
Chief Anyaoku had on Friday led other eminent Nigerians under the aegis The Patriots to a meeting with President Tinubu in Aso Rock, Abuja, where they made the demand for the amendment of the 1999 constitution to prevent total chaos.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, was a former Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Tinubu, however, assured the group members that their request for the convening of a national constituent assembly with the mandate to draft a new constitution will be reviewed.
Earlier while speaking, Chief Anyaoku, appealed to the President to send an executive bill to the National Assembly, proposing two measures :
”The convening of a national constituent assembly with the mandate to produce a draft people’s democratic constitution.
“The constituent assembly should be of directly elected individuals, on a non-political basis, from the 36 states of the federation, possibly three individuals per state, and one from the FCT.
”They should be assisted by seven constitutional lawyers, one drawn from each of the six geo-political zones and the FCT.
“The deliberations of the constituent assembly should take into full account the 1960/63 constitutions, as well as the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference and indeed of the various national conferences that considered the Nigerian constitutions.”
Chief Anyaoku also said The Patriots requested legislating for a national plebiscite to which the draft constitution emerging from the constituent assembly should be subjected.
”The draft constitution, produced by the Constituent Assembly, should be put to a national referendum and if approved, should then be signed by the President as the genuine Nigerian peopleโs constitution,” he said.
Responding to these requests, the President expressed his respect for The Patriots and their contributions to national discourse.
”I have listened to you carefully, and this is not a group that I can ignore. This is a group of patriots reflecting the heart and aspirations of society. I thank all of you for being here.
”I have faced the challenge of this democracy that I inherited from your struggles. I must recognise the fact that these challenges are most required for good governance.
”We have no other choice, and I believe also that it is most difficult to manage the twist and turns of democratic governance.
”I want to assure all of you that as I listened to your two major requests on the path to referendum and that should lead to constitutional measures that will fit our diversity and governance so that we avoid conflicts and break-ups.
”I believe in the unity of this country and I want to assure you that whatever is necessary to put happiness and good governance in the hands of all Nigerians is what I would do,” the President said.
President Tinubu also noted that the clamour for constitutional reforms is a longstanding issue in national discourse.
He acknowledged the examples presented by The Patriots on pluralistic countries, such as Canada and India, which have maintained unity by addressing their diversity through their constitutions.
”The avoidance of chaos is necessary to build this country and move its aspirations forward for the benefit of all of us.
”I am currently preoccupied with economic reform.
“That is my first priority. Once this is in place, as soon as possible, I will look at other options, including constitutional review as recommended by you and other options,” the President said.
President Tinubu also used the occasion to pay glowing tribute to the founding chairman of The Patriots, Chief Rotimi Williams, SAN, and Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, who succeeded him.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
