Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has expressed that Nigeria’s current challenges cannot be resolved without discarding the 1999 Constitution, urging the country to adopt a federal structure that respects its diverse ethnic and cultural composition.
Speaking at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos during the launch of a new biography, The Noble Academic and Patriot: A Biography of Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, Anyaoku said only a truly federal constitution could address Nigeria’s complexities and set it on a path to unity and development.
“Those who believe Nigeria’s issues are simply a matter of leadership misunderstand the core of our challenges,” he stated.
As long as the 1999 Constitution remains our guiding document, even exceptional leaders would struggle to address the underlying divisiveness, economic underperformance, poverty, insecurity, and widespread corruption.
Anyaoku, who served as chairman for the event, argued that Nigeria must embrace true federalism, citing countries like India, Canada, and Switzerland as examples of pluralistic nations that have achieved unity and progress through federal systems.
He underscored that Nigeria’s distinct regions, with their diverse histories, cultures, languages, and religions, need a governance structure that accommodates these differences.
Anyaoku also reflected on his relationship with Professor Osuntokun, the biography’s subject, who supported his candidacy for the Commonwealth Secretary-General position.
He commended Osuntokun as a distinguished academic and a patriot whose contributions remain an inspiration to younger Nigerians.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State, reviewed the biography, sharing insights into Osuntokun’s background and academic contributions.
Fayemi highlighted Osuntokun’s life journey, which includes his family’s historical military role in Nigeria and his rise as a respected intellectual and statesman.
Labor Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also attended the event, where he acknowledged the legacy of Professor Osuntokun.
Obi expressed regret over a national culture that celebrates individuals who contribute little to Nigeria’s progress, a mindset, he warned, that harms the country’s development.
Osuntokun’s enduring influence was further echoed by Tunde Bakare, Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, who praised him as a dedicated educator who impacted his life.
Bakare led the unveiling of the book and hoped that readers would gain inspiration from Osuntokun’s legacy to contribute positively to Nigeria’s future.
The event saw prominent attendees, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, represented by Wahab Alawiye, Lagos State officials, and notable public figures, marking a collective call for Nigeria to look to constitutional reform as a pathway to stability.
