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A prominent group of elder statesmen and national leaders under the banner of The Patriots has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, deepening poverty, and what it described as the failure of the current constitutional order to address the country’s mounting crises, calling for an urgent restructuring of the nation’s governance architecture ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a communiqué issued after its meeting in Lagos on Thursday, the group, chaired by Emeka Anyaoku and jointly signed by Veteran Olawale Okunniyi, warned that persistent killings, kidnappings, and the displacement of communities across several parts of the country now pose a grave threat to Nigeria’s national survival.
The Patriots said they were deeply troubled by the increasing attacks by bandits and armed groups in the North East, North West, North Central, and more recently, parts of the South West, noting that thousands of citizens have continued to flee their ancestral homes into camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
According to the communiqué, the growing insecurity has severely affected agricultural activities, as many farmers are unable to access their farmlands, thereby worsening concerns over food insecurity and economic hardship nationwide.
Describing the security situation as a “national protection, governance and economic survival crisis,” the group urged the Federal Government to immediately establish a special committee to advise on comprehensive strategies for tackling the various dimensions of insecurity confronting the nation.
While acknowledging recent economic reforms introduced by the Federal Government and their stabilizing impact on macroeconomic indicators, the elder statesmen expressed concern that the reforms have yet to significantly improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians, especially those in rural communities.
The Patriots cited figures from the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that about 63 per cent of Nigerians remain multidimensionally poor, stressing that the level of hardship among the masses remains “unacceptably high.”
The group further renewed its long-standing advocacy for a new democratic constitution, insisting that Nigeria’s present governance structure, derived from the 1999 Constitution, has failed to effectively address the country’s numerous political, economic, and security challenges.
Reaffirming resolutions reached during its national summit held in Abuja in July 2025, The Patriots maintained that the country requires a new constitution produced by representatives specifically elected by Nigerians on a non-partisan basis.
According to the communiqué, such a constitution would replace what the group described as a military-imposed constitutional framework and establish a governance system that truly reflects the democratic aspirations and diversity of the Nigerian people.
As political activities ahead of the 2027 elections intensify, the group also criticized the absence of ideological foundations among political parties, saying the persistent defections of elected officials from one party to another have reinforced public perception that political parties exist merely as platforms for acquiring power and public office benefits.
The Patriots urged political parties and aspirants to focus their campaigns on national issues and policy alternatives rather than engaging in personal attacks and inflammatory rhetoric.
The group also appealed to Nigerians to vote only for candidates and political parties whose manifestoes clearly commit to restructuring the country’s governance system.
In a further warning, The Patriots stressed that the conduct of the 2027 elections would come under close scrutiny by the international community, urging the Federal Government, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and state and local government authorities to ensure a transparent and credible electoral process.
The communiqué also condemned the rising financial barriers associated with contesting elections and participating in politics, warning that the increasing monetization of the electoral process is excluding many credible Nigerians from public leadership.
The Patriots therefore called on political parties to embrace value-based politics and reduce excessive dependence on money politics, which it said continues to undermine democratic development in the country.
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