National Confab Update: Conveners Delay Opening Ceremony For One Hour to Allow Return of Dignitaries from Daura
….National Constitutional Confab Honours Buhari
In view of the ongoing national mourning and recent state functions in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, who was buried on Tuesday, the organisers of the National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy have announced a slight adjustment to the official opening time of the summit.
The opening ceremony, originally scheduled to commence at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja will now begin at 10:00 AM, allowing additional time for key dignitaries and stakeholders currently returning from the former President’s burial in Daura, Katsina State, to arrive and participate in the historic event.
This update was given through a late briefing on Tuesday by Olawale Okunniyi, Head of the National Summit Joint Secretariat.
“Given the deeply significant national moment we are in, and out of sensitivity to the schedules of several eminent participants who travelled to Daura for the burial of the former President, General Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, the Summit Joint Secretariat has resolved to delay the formal opening of the National Constitutional Summit by one hour to allow for full participation of key stakeholders, who have gone to pay last respects to the memory of a man who played some crucial roles in Nigeria’s political life ” Okunniyi disclosed
The summit, convened by The PATRIOTS in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG), is bringing together Nigeria’s most respected elder statesmen, former Presidents, governors (past and present), captains of industry, traditional leaders, civic activists, and constitutional experts. The goal is to chart a transformative course for Nigeria through the endorsement and presentation of a Draft Legislative Bill for a New Democratic federal Constitution for Nigeria—a product of wide-ranging national consultations and intellectual rigour.
With the theme, “Actualising a Constitutional Democracy That Works for All in Nigeria,” the summit aims to catalyze a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s existing governance framework, widely criticized for its unitary orientation under the 1999 Constitution. The objective is to establish a truly federal, participatory, and development-oriented constitutional order that reflects Nigeria’s multi-ethnic identity and diverse aspirations.
The Summit Joint Secretariat however extended appreciation to all participants and stakeholders for their sacrifices, understanding, cooperation for the unexpected delay in opening the Summit and their dedication to Nigeria’s democratic renewal.
