Ohanaeze Ndigbo demands immediate Sovereign National Conference for Nigeria
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Calls for Sovereign National Conference to Redefine Nigeria’s Constitution
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has urged for the immediate convening of a Sovereign National Conference aimed at creating a constitution that accurately reflects the aspirations and democratic ideals of Nigeria’s diverse population.
In a statement released Wednesday, Chief Omenazu Jackson, the factional President-General of the group, asserted that Nigeria’s constitutional development has been historically influenced by colonial powers and military regimes rather than the will of the people. According to Ohanaeze, none of Nigeria’s constitutions have emerged from a genuine sovereign process.
The organization criticized previous constitutions, including the Colonial Constitutions—such as the Clifford Constitution of 1922, Richards Constitution of 1946, Macpherson Constitution of 1951, and Lyttleton Constitution of 1954—arguing that they were crafted to serve British colonial interests instead of Nigerian aspirations.
Ohanaeze further contended that the Independence Constitution of 1960 and the Republican Constitution of 1963 were products of elite negotiations entrenched in colonial frameworks, lacking a true constituent engagement with the Nigerian populace. They also claimed that the current 1999 Constitution and prior frameworks from 1979 and the aborted 1989 process were products of military rule, lacking legitimacy due to the absence of popular approval.
The group linked the lack of a people’s constitution to ongoing national challenges, including debates on federalism, resource management, devolution of powers, and electoral reforms. It stated that Nigeria could no longer function under a constitutional system not willingly adopted by its citizens, emphasizing that a democratic nation must be governed by a constitution created with popular consent.
Ohanaeze proposed that a Sovereign National Conference would allow Nigerians to collectively decide on the political structure and address current governance issues. It recommended that each ethnic group nominate and sponsor their delegates without government interference, advocating for equal representation regardless of size or population.
The organization insisted that no government entity should have the authority to appoint, fund, or influence delegates, and that the conference should independently determine its own operations. It called for the resolutions of the conference to remain unaltered by any government branch and for the constitution agreed upon to serve as Nigeria’s supreme law.
Ohanaeze urged the Federal Government, National Assembly, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to support this initiative, deeming it essential for promoting peace, justice, and national renewal.
In conclusion, the organization expressed its belief that Nigeria must operate under a constitution reflective of the genuine will of its people. It called for a collective effort among Nigerians to shape the future of the country through sincerity and patriotism.
