Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has called on the National Assembly to suspend further amendments to the 1999 Constitution, insisting that Nigeria needs a new, homegrown constitution that truly reflects the will and identity of its people.
Olanipekun made the call on Monday while delivering the 13th Convocation Lecture of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, titled “Nigeria Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Imperative of a Sober and Definitive Recalibration.”
He described the 1999 Constitution as a “military albatross” imposed on Nigerians, stressing that repeated amendments have failed to cure its foundational defects. According to him, what the country requires is not another patchwork reform but a complete overhaul.
“The National Assembly should, for the time being, stay action on the ongoing or any further amendment to the 1999 Constitution. This constitution needs a new rebranding, a complete overhaul — a substitution altogether. It has to be a negotiated document that will pave the way for a new social order,” he said.
Olanipekun proposed a transitional period between now and 2031 to harmonise past constitutional efforts and prepare for the adoption of a new national charter. “During the transitional period, elections will still hold and the winners will serve their terms, but with the understanding that come May 29, 2031, Nigeria will operate under a new constitution, a new structure and a fresh dawn,” he stated.
He also called for the conduct of a national referendum, describing it as a solemn democratic exercise through which citizens can collectively decide their political destiny. “A referendum is not alien to our political evolution. Sovereignty resides in the people, who therefore have an inalienable right to decide how they wish to be governed,” he said.
Olanipekun further argued that the National Assembly should not oversee such a referendum, as it would amount to being “a judge in its own case.” Instead, he suggested that federating units should take responsibility for designing and conducting the process.
The legal luminary emphasised the need to reconfigure Nigeria’s federal structure, lamenting that the states have lost their constitutional authority to an overbearing central government. “The fact remains that the states appear to have lost their grip and gravitas on their traditional and constitutional jurisdiction. The more states are created, the more weakened the so-called federating units become, and the more imperious the centre,” he said.
He urged that federating units be empowered to lead the re-engineering of the country for greater stability in governance, security, and development.
Olanipekun also criticised the growing lack of ideology among Nigerian politicians, warning that constant defections between political parties undermine democratic values. “Membership in a political party should not be a tea party or picnic, but a serious business. There should be fidelity to policies, ideas, programmes, philosophy, and ideology,” he stated.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his consistency and resilience in politics, noting that Tinubu remained within the progressive bloc despite years in opposition. “Aside from him and a few others, most politicians have, since 1999, been migrating from one political party to another with ease and convenience,” he said.
Olanipekun added that Nigeria must focus on rebuilding its national identity by promoting deliberate, reflective dialogue and unity beyond ethnic or partisan divides. He lauded President Tinubu for reintroducing the old national anthem, describing it as a symbolic step toward rediscovering shared national values.
“To reconcile our differences in tribe and tongue, we have to be deliberate, sober and reflective, and take steps that will lead to a recalibration of our country,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), praised Olanipekun for his “well-researched” lecture, describing it as consistent with his own long-standing advocacy for a new constitution that would set Nigeria on the path to sustainable growth and true democracy.
— Reported by [Your Name], [News Outlet]
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