Nigerian Politician Urges President Not to Reform Constitution

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reject calls from elder statesmen, including former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku, to reform the 1999 Constitution. Kachikwu made the appeal at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday.

This comes just 24 hours after Anyaoku’s group, The Patriots, met with Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa. Anyaoku had requested that the President forward an executive bill to the National Assembly to legislate on a national referendum, which would approve a draft for a "pluralistic constitution." He also proposed that a 109-member constituent assembly be mandated to produce the draft constitution, which would be subject to a referendum.

However, Kachikwu disagreed, arguing that the country does not need a new constitution when the existing one has not been fully exhausted and can be amended as needed. He stated that the current constitution has been amended several times in the past and that the country should focus on utilizing its existing framework rather than starting anew.

Kachikwu also emphasized the importance of President Tinubu understanding that most Nigerians do not believe the country has a functioning government or that its citizens are one people. He urged the President to "start selling a charter and a new order that speaks to us as a people and brings us together."

The politician also highlighted the issue of Nigerians being too focused on identifying problems rather than finding solutions, citing the country’s tendency to play the blame game and prioritize emotionally appealing solutions over logical ones.

With tensions surrounding constitutional reform in Nigeria, Kachikwu’s remarks may have significant implications for the country’s political landscape.