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Constitutional Review: UK Afenifere calls for a new constitution to reflect true federalism
By Clifford Ejenavi As the Nigeria constitutional review nears its slated December 2025 deadline, the Afenifere Group in the United Kingdom and Europe, otherwise known as UK Afenifere has called on Nigerians to insist on a new constitution that will reflect true federalism across the country. The National Assembly had said the constitutional review is…
By Clifford Ejenavi
As the Nigeria constitutional review nears its slated December 2025 deadline, the Afenifere Group in the United Kingdom and Europe, otherwise known as UK Afenifere has called on Nigerians to insist on a new constitution that will reflect true federalism across the country.
The National Assembly had said the constitutional review is necessary due to several bills submitted before it for consideration. The bills include State Creation, Electoral Reforms, Judiciary Overhaul, Local Government Autonomy, and Security Restructuring, notably the establishment of State Police and a State Security Council.
The Lawmakers said the process of constituitional review is not just about amending a document but about shaping the future of Nigeria.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday July 16, 2025 by the Secretary, UK Afenifere, Engr. Anthony Ajayi, the group said since the adoption of the 1999 Constitution, Nigeria has not made meaningful progress and impact on the citizens even with the advent of technologies. The group argued that the country is already in the state of quagmire and therefore need a new constitution for her people than continued amendment which has no direct positive impact on the citizens.
According to the group, the 1999 Constitution as amended, has given rise to corruption and insecurity thereby depriving the Nigerian masses the enjoyment of good governance, adding that since the constitution came into existence, Nigerian politicians have been hiding under it to perpetrate evil against the people of Nigeria unabated.
“We have been agitating for restructuring of Nigeria over the years just like others that had called for a referendum or national conference to address our differences. But, going by the current reality, Nigeria needs a Constitution that will capture the interest of the people more than politicians.
“We cannot continue to patronise practices that weigh on our development, weaken our potentials and mock our collective sensibilities.
“The Western region under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, without oil money, used capitation tax and revenue from agriculture and mining to fund free education for over 800,000 pupils, built several roads, farm settlements, industrial estates, the first TV station in Africa, and the tallest building in Nigeria at the time, while still giving up 50 percent of its earnings from mining and minerals for allocation to the federal government and other regions.
“Drawing from the collective wisdom of some of our prominent leaders including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof. Woke Soyinka, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, among others, Nigeria need a new constitution that empowers Nigerians, strengthens institutions, promotes electoral justice, protects minority rights, and enables broad-based development at all levels. These leaders have consistently traced the root of the Nigeria’s challenges to the 1999 Constitution, which is described as unitary and undermines federalism.
“Olawale Okunniyi did says, the 1999 Constitution, enacted in the twilight of military rule without extensive public consultation, has long been faulted for entrenching a unitary system that stifles federalism, undermines local governance, and fails to reflect Nigeria’s multi-ethnic, pluralistic realities, and we agreed with him.
“From systemic insecurity, mass youth unemployment, and poor public service delivery to weak institutions, inequitable resource control, and economic centralisation, and many Nigeria’s persistent challenges are rooted in constitutional dysfunction.
“We therefore called on all Nigerians to demand for a new constitution that will ensure true federalism which often regarded as the appropriate governmental principle for countries with huge ethno-cultural diversities. This was the same principle our heroes past, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, and many others used in the development of their region”, the UK Afenifere said.
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