Tinubu receives Patriots group, to consider request for new constitution

President Bola Tinubu on Friday in Abuja promised to review a request from a group of eminent Nigerians, The Patriots, to establish a national constituent assembly with the mandate to draft a new constitution.

However, he said, his foremost priority at the moment is to retool the economy for sustainable growth and development.

“I am currently preoccupied with economic reform. That is my first priority. Once this is in place, as soon as possible, I will look at other options, including constitutional review as recommended by you and other options,” the President affirmed when he received members of the group led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, at the State House on Friday.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed the outcome of the meeting in a statement he signed on Friday titled ‘President Tinubu receives patriots, group, says strengthening Nigeria’s economy a topmost priority but request for new constitution will be reviewed.’

He told the delegation they would be invited again for a more detailed conversation on their submissions.

“I may have to some of you again to furnish me and discuss further details of your rich submissions.

“As you present this, just believe that it will be reviewed, and I commit myself to the belief that you want a stable and prosperous Nigeria,” President Tinubu stated.

Earlier, Anyaoku, who spoke on behalf of The Patriots, appealed to the President to send an executive bill to the National Assembly, proposing two measures.

They include convening a national constituent assembly with the mandate to produce a draft people’s democratic constitution, while the constituent assembly should be of directly elected individuals, on a non-political basis, from the 36 states of the federation, possibly three individuals per state and one from the FCT.

Anyaoku also said the Patriots requested legislation for a national referendum to which the draft constitution emerging from the constituent assembly should be subjected.

Responding to these requests, the President expressed his respect for The Patriots and their contributions to national discourse.

Some members of The Patriots present at the meeting were former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba; former Minister Information, Mr. Labaran Maku; former senator representing Kaduna central district, Shehu Sani, former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen and Human Rights Lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, among others.