President Bola Tinubu has emphasized that his administration’s primary focus is on retooling the economy for sustainable growth rather than working on drafting a new Constitution.
This statement was made during a meeting with ‘The Patriots’, a group of prominent Nigerians led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the former Commonwealth Secretary-General, who visited the State House on Friday.
Chief Anyaoku, speaking on behalf of ‘The Patriots’, urged President Tinubu to consider convening a national constituent assembly tasked with drafting a new democratic Constitution. He proposed that this assembly be composed of directly elected representatives from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, supported by constitutional lawyers from across the country’s geopolitical zones. Additionally, he suggested that the resulting draft Constitution should be subjected to a national plebiscite.
In response, President Tinubu expressed respect for the group’s contributions to national discourse and assured them that their requests would be reviewed. He reiterated his commitment to national unity and acknowledged the need to address constitutional reforms.
However, he stressed that his immediate priority is economic reform, which he believes is essential for the country’s stability and progress. Once the economic reforms are in place, Tinubu assured that he would consider the proposed constitutional review and other options to ensure good governance for all Nigerians.
The President also noted the importance of avoiding chaos and ensuring that the aspirations of all Nigerians are met, promising further discussions with Chief Anyaoku and ‘The Patriots’ on the matter.
