Amendments Insufficient; Nigeria Requires a People’s Constitution – Prof. Kila

Professor Kila asserts that mere amendments to Nigeria’s constitution are inadequate, advocating for the creation of a new People’s Constitution to truly represent the will of all Nigerians.

According to Prof Anthony Kila, who is a renowned expert in the field of Strategy and Development, mere amendments to Nigeria’s constitution would not suffice in achieving collective peace and progress.

During his appearance on Tuesday’sPolitics Todayon Channels Television, Kila asserted that Nigeria requires a new constitution authored by the people to supplant the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He criticized the current constitution created more than two decades ago by the military as “defective.”

He stated that in Nigeria, and due to the current times we live in globally, minor inputs are insufficient as swift and powerful interventions are necessary to achieve anything.

Kila, a prominent Nigerian and member of The Patriots organization headed by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, recently met with President Bola Tinubu to advocate for the implementation of a constitution that reflects the will of the people. In recognition of his efforts, Kila was appointed as chairperson for The Patriot’s advocacy committee tasked with realizing this goal.

READ ALSO: Ozekhome: Tinubu Needs Political Will for New Nigerian Constitution

His statement was that the constitution begins with “We, the people,” which he believes to be untrue. According to him, these three words are fallacious and therefore render the present-day constitution inaccurate and in need of revision.

According to Kila, the current Nigerian constitution was not created in adherence with the rules of engagement for a people’s constitution.

According to him, the constitution did not undergo a referendum and failed to include the diversity of the nation. He assured that The Patriots’ proposed new constitution will uphold this principle.

He said that currently in Nigeria, individuals are being compelled to conform to identities that do not align with their true selves. He asserts his perspective of Nigeria as a coalition of distinct societies and finds no issue with it.

He clarified that The Patriots are facilitating the process of drafting a new constitution for their country by means of widespread public engagement rather than writing one themselves.