By Shiloh O. Akinyemi
At an emergency meeting called by the Eminent National Leaders Group of Project Nigeria Movement and The Patriots, the need for constitutional reform was harped on.
Other issues of national interest were on the front burner, without leaving out the reflections on lives and times of past leaders of the group.
The recent passing of their National Chairman, Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN, who departed the world last week featured prominently in the discussion as well as proposals for the imminent reform of the West African country.
The meeting was held yesterday, Thursday, 9th November, 2023 at FRA Williams Chambers, No 1 – 3 Sagamu Avenue off Association Drive, Ilupeju, Lagos. The meeting began at 11AM prompt as scheduled.
Rising from the meeting, His Excellency, Chief Emeka Anyaoku flanked on his immediate right by Pa Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the Afenifere and Dr Kalu Idika Kalu former Minister of Finance and on his immediate right by the head of the Secretariat; Olawale Okunniyi.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku read the statement by the Patriots.
The statement titled, Statement By The Patriots, read:
We met as a group of non-partisan individuals whose common purpose is love for our country, Nigeria, and a shared desire to have a united, stable and progressive nation that cares for the welfare of its citizens.
We recalled and paid tribute to our past leaders the late Chief Rotim Williams SAN, in whose Chambers we met, and Professor Ben Nwabueze SAN who passed on last week.
They were both great Nigerian patriots, the former was a towering legal luminary; the latter was a giant constitutional scholar who served his country and a number of African countries meritoriously!
We accept the reality of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration whose legitimacy derives from the judgement of the highest judiciary court in our land on the country’s 2023 national elections.
We are very concerned at the current lamentable state of affairs in our country including the declining sense of national unity, the Insecurity of lives and property, the increasing poverty and unemployment afflicting our citizens, especially the youths!
Experiences over the last 30 years has shown that despite the declared best intentions of our governments, Nigeria’s unity, internal security and economy have continued to deteriorate!
In our view, the reason is that our governments have continued to scratch the surface instead of addressing the fundamental issue of the governance system which flows from the constitution of the country!
We believe that President Tinubu’s government has a historic opportunity and responsibility for fixing this fundamental challenge. If he, like the previous governments makes the mistake of avoiding to effect the necessary fundamental changes by bringing in a new people’s constitution, Nigeria will inevitably continue its present dangerous decline!
Only a truly Federal Constitution as was agreed by Nigerians’ founding fathers will give the country a chance of tackling its current challenges effectively!
Scion of FRA Williams Dynasty, Mr Tokunbo Williams was the host of the meeting. Though late for the meeting, the prolific writer and pen warrior; Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi was among patriots of the house of Nigeria who made contributions to the meeting.
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