Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that Nigeria needs the right operators of its constitution rather than a perfect constitution to achieve good governance and promote the welfare of its citizens.
Obasanjo made this declaration during the opening of a three-day National Summit on the Future of Nigeria's Constitutional Democracy, organized by The Patriots in collaboration with the Nigeria Political Summit Group on Wednesday in Abuja.
The former president, whose remarks were read by the Secretary-General of Eminent Patriots, Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, emphasized that while a nation's constitution must reflect its history, constituents, and aspirations, "no constitution is perfect."
"From my experience in operating our constitution, I will be the first to point out some areas of our constitution that need amendment. However, for me, no constitution can ever be regarded as perfect," Obasanjo stated.
He further explained that the quality of those implementing the constitution matters more than the document itself. "The best constitution can be perverted and distorted by the operators, and we have experienced that all over Africa; Nigeria is not exempted."
Obasanjo warned that without a change in the operators of the constitution, who have been in power for the past decade and a half, the welfare of Nigerians would "continue to be sacrificed on the altar of selfishness, self-centeredness, corruption, impunity, and total disregard of the constitution, decency, morality, integrity, and honesty."
Calls for Constitutional Reform
Former Akwa-Ibom Governor Victor Attah, whose remarks were also read by Okunniyi, described the 1999 Constitution as a military decree imposed without the people's consent, not a people's constitution.
"The military suspended the 1963 Constitution, which remains the last legal expression of our people's collective will and agreed terms of condition for staying together," Attah said.
He advocated for a return to true federalism, stating: "We, from the South-South region, join other zones across this country who now agree that this union is not working as it is. It can only be sustained if it is restructured on the basis of equity, justice, and mutual consent."
Attah proposed several reforms, including returning sovereignty to the people, eliminating the unitary system, reinstating federalism, reducing the cost of politics, and establishing a unicameral legislature with ministers appointed only from elected representatives.
Summit Objectives
Senator Gbenga Daniel, Co-Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Senate Committee Chairman on Navy, described the summit as a significant step toward national unity and development.
"This summit is a citizen-driven constitutional intervention, stemming from months and even years of relentless advocacy, extensive consultations, and a growing sense of public urgency," Daniel explained.
The summit aims to address critical issues including the structure of the Nigerian federation, local government functioning, resource control, fiscal federalism, electoral and judicial reforms, security concerns, and citizenship rights.
Daniel emphasized that the resolutions from the summit would be documented and presented to both the presidency and the National Assembly for consideration, with the intention of promoting constructive collaboration rather than confrontation.
"It is imperative that we persuade our leaders—through reasoned argument, consensus-building, and compelling evidence—that Nigeria is in dire need of a new constitutional framework that reflects the aspirations and realities of all its citizens," he concluded.
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