A member of the Joint Secretariat of the National Political Summit, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, has described Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as “not fit for purpose,” insisting that only a fresh, people-driven constitution can rescue the country from decades of political instability and governance failure.
Speaking on ARISE News on Wednesday, Fapohunda — who is also an eminent member of the Patriots Group and Director of Research at Afenifere — said the ongoing constitution amendment process by the National Assembly was “a colossal waste of time and money,” warning that it would do little to address the country’s deep-rooted structural problems.
“The political class is deaf and dumb to reason. What the National Assembly is doing now is merely tinkering with a faulty document. They are amending 74 bills through 36 state assemblies — do they even have the capacity to process that? They want to create 46 new states and amend over 80 sections of the Constitution. It’s an exercise in futility.”
He argued that the 1999 Constitution had failed to promote true federalism, calling instead for a decentralised structure that empowers the six geopolitical zones to function as autonomous regions within a redefined federation.
“The federal government is not fit for purpose. True federalism means distinct structures with clear functional frameworks. The federal government should handle not more than 12 or 14 items — like foreign affairs, currency, and passports. Why should the Minister of Works be travelling across the country inspecting roads himself? That’s not governance.”
Fapohunda said the Patriots Group had already drafted a comprehensive People’s Constitution, proposing a parliamentary system of government where governors and the prime minister would emerge through an electoral college rather than direct elections.
“We have a ready document — a bill that decentralises governance, revenue allocation, and elections. The next election should be parliamentary. Let those elected by their people in the states choose their leaders; it will reduce corruption and the cost of governance.”
He urged President Bola Tinubu to adopt and forward the Patriots’ draft bill to the National Assembly, saying the reform could be completed in six months if there is political will.
“When the Patriots met the President last year, he said he would first fix the economy and then politics. Now that the economy is stabilising, it is time for politics. If he sends the bill to the National Assembly this month, by May we could have a referendum, and by October 1, a new Constitution could be proclaimed.”
The constitutional reform advocate warned that the continued silence of the political elite and former heads of state was dangerous for the nation’s unity and future.
“Our former heads of state are too quiet — Gowon, Babangida, all of them. There has to be moral leadership to call the political class to order. If they refuse to listen, I fear we might have extra-legal reactions from a frustrated populace.”
Fapohunda also blamed Nigeria’s leadership crisis on self-serving politics and what he called a “culture of personal interest over public good.”
“Many of them are my friends. They spend ₦50 million to contest for Senate, then go to Abuja and start recouping their investment. They are not serving the people; they are serving their pockets. Until we change the structure, we can’t change the outcome.”
He maintained that Nigeria’s salvation lies in restructuring and regional empowerment.
“Each region should have the right to draft its own sub-constitution, control its resources, and compete in a healthy manner. We can maintain the federal government as a coordinating body — like the United Nations — while the regions drive their development.”
Concluding, Fapohunda said he remained “pessimistically optimistic”about reform but stressed that the Patriots’ draft constitution offers Nigeria a historic opportunity to rebuild governance on fairness, inclusion, and accountability.
“We can’t keep pretending everything is fine. The 1999 Constitution was never negotiated by Nigerians. It’s time to return sovereignty to the people and give this country a new beginning.”
Boluwatife Enome
