Tunji Abayomi: Nigeria's constitution is not the people's document

Dr. Tunji Abayomi, a constitutional lawyer and panelist at the National Constitutional Dialogue, has lamented the 1999 national constitution, claiming it denies minority Nigerians their rights.

Following the “National dialogue on the future of Nigeria” colloquium on Monday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos State, Abayomi made this revelation.

The attorney, who appeared on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Tuesday, claimed that the constitution is anti-people and that a quick revision is necessary for the good of Nigerians.

“If we enhance the concept of ‘Nigerianity,'” he declared. We can create a fantastic country. Minority sects exist in every nation, but they are protected by the law. To some degree, diversity exists in every country, but the law protects the people.

“You don’t have to worry about the minority once you have laws protecting citizens’ rights. Ensuring the protection of citizens is the fundamental purpose of the commissions.

“The absence of a people’s constitution is the current issue facing Nigeria. A constitution in which a minority states that these problems are what worries them.

In an apparent reference to well-known Senegalese writer Leopold Senghor, Abayomi stated that Nigeria must hold a universal banquet and decide on the conditions of our unification in order to address the ongoing constitutional issues in the country.

“We have never before gathered to discuss our terms of unification. Lancaster resembled a writ of summons, which is an official court order requiring an individual to appear after being charged with a crime against another person. After Lancaster, he said, “we now encountered military personnel enforcing the constitution.”

In addition, the attorney urged grouping Nigerians together as a federating entity and soliciting their input on the composition of the nation’s constitution.

The PUNCH reported that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, along with past Governors, prominent diplomats, lawyers, and other senior statesmen, joined former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Monday to seek a revision in Nigeria’s Constitution. The 1999 Constitution states: https://punchng.com/anyaoku-sanwo-olu-bode-george-ex-governors-fault/

Honoring the late legal luminary Prof. Ben Nwabueze, a colloquium was held.

Among those present were Obong Victor Attah, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State; Donald Duke, the former governor of Cross River State; Senator Aminu Tambuwal, the former governor of Sokoto; Oba Adewunmi Olayigbade, the representative of the Ooni of Ife; Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the Leader of Afenifere; Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, the former minister of foreign affairs; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the most recent governor of Ekiti State; and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the former governor of Ogun State.

Others included the keynote speaker, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Olabode George, the former military governor of Ondo State and PDP deputy national chairman, James Ibori, the former governor of Delta, Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers, Prof. Anya O. Anya, the pioneer chief executive officer of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, and former governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola.