
President Bola Tinubu has pledged to review a proposal for convening a national constituent assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution for Nigeria. The proposal was presented by a group of prominent figures known as "The Patriots," led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
During a visit to the President in Abuja on Friday, August 9, Chief Anyaoku urged Tinubu to send an executive bill to the National Assembly to initiate two key measures. The first measure calls for the establishment of a national constituent assembly composed of directly elected individuals, three from each of Nigeria's 36 states and one from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These individuals would be elected on a non-political basis and would work alongside seven constitutional lawyers, representing each of the six geopolitical zones and the FCT.
Chief Anyaoku emphasized that the assembly's deliberations should draw on the 1960/63 constitutions, the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, and other previous national conferences on the Nigerian constitution. The assembly would then produce a draft constitution to be put to a national referendum. If approved, it would be signed by the President as the genuine constitution of the Nigerian people.
In response, President Tinubu acknowledged the significance of the proposal and the importance of the group behind it. "I have listened to you carefully, and this is not a group that I can ignore. This is a group of patriots reflecting the heart and aspirations of society. I thank all of you for being here," Tinubu remarked.

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