No Part of Nigeria is Happy With Nigeria

From Monday to Thursday, prominent Nigerian leaders and thinkers gathered at the Transcorp Hilton and Nicon Luxury hotels in Abuja for the National Summit on the Future of Nigeria's Democracy, organized by The Patriots and the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG). The summit brought together eminent personalities including former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, legal luminaries Wole Olanipekun and Femi Falana, political economist Pat Utomi, former education minister Oby Ezekwesili, and representatives from all geopolitical zones.

The central theme emerging from the summit was the unanimous condemnation of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution as a fraudulent document imposed by the military without popular participation. Chief Anyaoku described it as fundamentally flawed, noting it has made Nigeria the world's poverty capital while failing to address infrastructure deficits or national unity. The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, called for a new constitution that would tackle poverty and insecurity while prioritizing citizens' welfare.

Key resolutions from the summit included:

Constitutional Reforms:

Complete replacement of the 1999 Constitution with a new people's constitution

Establishment of a non-partisan constituent assembly to draft the new constitution

Adoption of a two-tier system of government

Incorporation of recommendations from the 2014 National Conference

Restoration of the 1960/1963 constitutions as models

Electoral and Political Reforms:

Mandatory same-day elections for all positions

Constitutional amendment to allow electronic voting (BVAS)

Automatic loss of seats for defecting politicians

Conclusion of all election disputes before swearing-in

Diaspora voting rights

Greater women's participation in politics

Security Architecture:

Creation of a three-tier security structure comprising:

a) Local border forces (modeled after India's system)

b) A National Guard (similar to the U.S. model)

c) Conventional armed forces

Speakers were particularly critical of what they described as "elite authoritarianism" masquerading as democracy. Obong Victor Attah declared that Nigeria's sovereignty had been stolen from the people, while Ann Kio Briggs described the current constitution as "anti-Niger Delta and anti-Nigeria." Colonel Tony Nyiam (retd) proposed radical security reforms to address the nation's mounting challenges.

Despite skepticism about the National Assembly's willingness to act on the summit's recommendations, participants agreed that the conversation must continue. The resolutions will be formally presented to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly, with hopes that this could mark the beginning of genuine constitutional reform in Nigeria.