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Alarmed by Nigeria’s deteriorating security and political instability, a coalition of eminent statesmen, traditional leaders, legal minds, civil society figures, and former Presidents under the auspices of The Patriots has announced a far-reaching national intervention through a National Constitutional Summit aimed at forging a renewed social contract and rescuing the country from looming chaos.

Spearheaded by former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and coordinated in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG), the summit is now officially scheduled to hold from Tuesday, July 15 to Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Themed “Actualising a Constitutional Democracy that Works for All in Nigeria,” the summit is widely regarded as the most inclusive and consequential attempt in recent years to address the foundational challenges threatening Nigeria’s unity and future.

“The Patriots, Eminent Leaders of thought, Statesmen and Women… are currently intensifying plans and consultations to convene an emergency National Constitutional Summit,” read a statement released by The Patriots and signed by Prof Anthony Kila, spokesperson of the Summit Joint Secretariat.

The convening, according to the organisers, is a direct response to the current state of the nation, particularly the wave of violence and insecurity that has swept across parts of the North and increasingly threatened national cohesion.

“In view of the current exacerbated insecurity in the country, especially the recent massacre of Nigerians in parts of the North,” the statement declared, “this historic effort seeks to chart a common path forward for the country.”

The gathering will draw over 700 delegates from all 36 states and the Nigerian diaspora, representing an unprecedented convergence of voices and perspectives. Among those expected to address the summit are former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, with confirmation awaited from General Yakubu Gowon, while General Abdulsalami Abubakar is said to be out of the country at the moment.

The summit will also feature a direct message from the Nigerian Presidency, as National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is scheduled to deliver a major address on the country’s security concerns. In what is seen as a bid to lend moral and cultural legitimacy to the process, key traditional and religious leaders—including the Sultan of Sokoto, Ooni of Ife, Obi of Onitsha, and Emir of Kano—are lined up to deliver goodwill messages to delegates.

“This is not just another summit,” said Prof Kila, “It is a serious constitutional moment. It is the coming together of the collective conscience of Nigeria to deliberate on a future that can truly work for all.”

In a demonstration of political unity, a Confab Coordinating Committee led by Senators Aminu Tambuwal and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, both former governors, has been working behind the scenes to secure broad-based political and institutional support. “They are currently mobilising broad support from State Governors, eminent leaders of thought and government gatekeepers towards a successful Constitutional Confab,” the statement confirmed.

The process is already engaging state governments to submit a list of 24 delegates each, while other national interest groups—including ethnic nationality movements, labour, youth and women’s organisations—are expected to send delegations to ensure representational equity and ideological diversity.

“The Summit will build consensus on the system and structure of the constitutional democracy most suitable for Nigeria,” said Prof Kila, adding that the process “will enrich the ongoing constitutional reform process of the National Assembly.”

Adding intellectual depth and civil society rigor to the summit are an array of keynote speakers, legal experts, and civic leaders who will moderate sessions and drive discussions around ten critical constitutional topics. A Summit Resolution Team composed of veteran resource persons and rapporteurs will collate the recommendations into a major legislative proposal—a Stakeholders’ Bill—to be formally submitted to the National Assembly for inclusion in the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

At the end of the three-day dialogue, the summit leadership, including members of the coordinating committee, will visit the Presidency to submit the summit’s final report. This will be done in the presence of the leadership of the National Assembly to foster synergy across all arms of government.

“The outcome of the Summit,” the organisers affirmed, “shall be submitted to the Presidency in company of the leadership of the National Assembly for the buy-in and support of the Federal Government.”

In addition to electoral and institutional reforms to be proposed by a selected panel of former presidential candidates, the summit will also take solidarity messages from national stakeholders such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other civil society formations.

The convergence, according to The Patriots, is about more than technical fixes or political consensus. It is, at its core, a national reckoning—a sober moment to assess the journey so far and to design a constitutional democracy that guarantees equity, inclusion, stability and peace.

With figures such as Prof Wole Soyinka, Prof Ango Abdullahi, General TY Danjuma, Chief Olu Falae, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Prof Mike Ozekhome, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Femi Falana, SAN, Samson Itodo, Sen Shehu Sani, and dozens of others billed to offer insights and interventions, the summit promises a rare alignment of elder statesmanship, institutional authority, and civic energy.

For many observers, the July summit could prove a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey—one that either opens a new chapter in constitutional reform or underscores, once again, the difficulty of genuine national consensus in the face of entrenched interests. But for The Patriots, the time for inaction is long gone.

“We are convening,” said the statement, “not just because we can—but because we must.”

StreetReporters.ng

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