Tinubu Reveals His Priority For Nigerians During Meeting With Anyaoku, Others

President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, during a meeting with former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku, and some others, revealed that his priority is to revive the economy of Nigeria.

Tinubu, while speaking at the State House, noted that his administration is not after working for a new Constitution. He, however, said the request for the convening of a national constituent assembly with the mandate to draft a new constitution will be reviewed.

 

Anyaoku, speaking on behalf of The Patriots, appealed to the President to send an executive bill to the National Assembly, proposing two measures.

He said, “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.”

Anyaoku also said the Patriots requested legislating for a national plebiscite to which the draft constitution emerging from the constituent assembly should be subjected.

Responding to their requests, the President expressed his respect for The Patriots and their contributions to national discourse.

He said, “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.”

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 told Anyaoku that he would be invited again for a more detailed conversation on the submissions of the Patriot.

“As you present this, just believe that it will be reviewed, and I commit myself to the belief that you want a stable and prosperous Nigeria,” President Tinubu concluded.