On Wednesday, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku issued a stark warning, stating that Nigeria’s development would remain stunted unless the country abandons the 1999 Constitution.
Anyaoku criticized the constitution, calling it “unitary,” and argued that successful pluralistic nations with diverse populations like Nigeria thrive with genuinely federal constitutions. He made these remarks at the launch of a biography titled The Noble Academic and Patriot: A Biography of Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos.
The event attracted numerous prominent figures, including Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by Senior Special Adviser on Policy, Strategy, and Logistics, Wahab Alawiye-King; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; former spokesperson to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Reuben Abati; the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; former Health Minister, Prince Julius Adeluyi; Pastor Tunde Bakare; and Ovation International Publisher, Dele Momodu, among others.
In his keynote speech, Anyaoku pointed out that Nigeria, like other pluralistic nations, has a population composed of groups with distinct histories, cultures, languages, and religions, each rooted in separate geographical areas. He observed that nations that have maintained unity and progress address their diversity with true federal constitutions. Anyaoku highlighted successful examples like India, Canada, and Switzerland, and contrasted these with countries that failed to manage diversity and eventually disintegrated, such as Yugoslavia, which split into seven states, and Sudan, which divided into two nations after nearly 3,000 years.
He insisted that Nigeria must adopt a truly federal constitution to achieve genuine unity, political stability, and address the pressing issues it faces. Anyaoku stressed that Nigeria’s main problem is not political leadership but rather the constraints imposed by the 1999 Constitution. He stated, “With the 1999 Constitution, even Angel Gabriel or Mala’ika Jibril would struggle to solve Nigeria’s challenges.” He warned that without a new constitution grounded in principles from Nigeria’s 1960/63 Constitution which was developed through negotiation and agreement among the country’s founding leaders issues like divisiveness, economic stagnation, poverty, insecurity, and corruption would persist.
Reflecting on the past, Anyaoku noted that Nigeria was more united, stable, and on a path toward realizing its potential under the 1960/63 Constitution, until the military coup in January 1966 introduced a unitary system, which has continued in various forms to the present day.
Peter Obi, who also spoke at the event, criticized Nigeria’s tendency to celebrate people who have not contributed positively to the nation’s development. Obi emphasized the need to honor individuals dedicated to education and national progress rather than those who exploit or harm society. He shared an example, noting that while the National Universities Commission (NUC) seeks PhD holders to teach in universities, many academics are underpaid, while others, such as political thugs, are compensated substantially more. Obi lamented, “We are choosing the least among us to be our role models, and that is destroying our society.”
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who reviewed the book, provided insight into how the project was conceived. The biography, The Noble Academic and Patriot, was initiated in 2018, following Professor Osuntokun’s tenure as Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman of Ekiti State University. In 2021, Professor Osuntokun granted extensive interviews and provided access to his library and archives to support the authors.
Fayemi described the book, which consists of nine chapters and three appendices, as a comprehensive account of Osuntokun’s life and legacy. The initial chapters delve into Osuntokun’s family history, highlighting his lineage and ancestors’ notable achievements, including his family’s entrepreneurial spirit and involvement in military and community struggles, such as the Ekiti and Ijesa forces against Ibadan in the Kiriji War.
Additionally, Fayemi recounted stories of Osuntokun’s father, who sought fortune in Ghana’s mines and eventually settled the family in Ilawe-Ekiti.
