•Anyaoku
The emergency national confab organised by The Patriots earlier scheduled to hold in Abuja from tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14, to Thursday, July 17, 2025, has been postponed.
The Frontier reports that the gathering is aimed at bringing together some of Nigeria’s most respected elder statesmen, former presidents, serving and former governors, national icons, captains of industry, civic leaders, and institutional stakeholders in an urgent effort to lay the foundation for a new, democratic people’s constitution that truly reflects the will, diversity, and aspirations of Nigerians.
According to the organisers, at the heart of the summit is the endorsement and presentation of a Draft Legislative Bill for a new Constitution of Nigeria — a product of nationwide consultations, intellectual rigour, and inclusive political dialogue — set to be submitted to both the Presidency and the National Assembly.
The leader of The Patriots group, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON, CFR, said the sudden postponement of the planned Confab was to honour the immediate past president, Muhammad Buhari, who died yesterday in a London clinic.
In a brief statement today made available to The Frontier, Chief Emeka Anyaoku said : “The Patriots have received with great sadness the news of the passing of our former President, General Muhammadu Buhari GCFR.
“Due tributes will be paid to his memory at the opening of the National Constitutional Summit which is now deferred until Wednesday, 16th July, 2025, as a mark of respect to the late President.
“The Patriots mourn with the country and pray that the Almighty will comfort his family. May his soul rest in peace.”
According to the organisers, eminent Nigerians scheduled to address the summit, now holding on Wednesday, include Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Prof. Wole Soyinka, General T.Y. Danjuma, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Mallam Tanko Yakasai, General Ike Nwachukwu, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief Mamman Osuman, SAN, Ambassador Godknows Igali, Elder Solomon Asemota, SAN, Obong Victor Attah, Senator Azuta Mbata, Prof. Akin Oyebode, SAN, Comrade Joe Ajaero of the NLC, Hajia Maryam Inna Ciroma, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Barrister Femi Falana, SAN, and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, among others.
Co-chairing the Organising Committee for the summit are His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State, and His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Governor of Sokoto State. The Summit Resolutions Committee is led by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
Together with the NPSG — a coalition of professionals, civic-minded political reformers, and constitutional advocates —the conveners bring unmatched credibility, national reach, and depth of experience to the urgent task of transforming Nigeria’s governance architecture.
A earlier statement by the organisers made available to The Frontier yesterday signed by the Head, Summit Joint Secretariat, Comrade Olawale Okunniyi, stated in part:
“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.
“From systemic insecurity, mass youth unemployment, and poor public service delivery to weak institutions, inequitable resource control, and economic centralization, many of Nigeria’s persistent challenges are rooted in constitutional dysfunction.
“As global dynamics shift —technologically, economically, environmentally, and geopolitically — Nigeria remains constrained by a rigid and outdated governance system that cannot deliver on the promise of a modern, just, and inclusive society.
“This summit is not just another political jamboree — it is a deliberate and inclusive national call to action. Its principal objective is to forge a new constitution that empowers Nigerians, strengthens institutions, promotes electoral justice, protects minority rights, and enables broad-based development at all levels.
“It promises to be a cross-sectoral, cross-generational, and cross-regional dialogue, drawing from the collective wisdom and aspirations of Nigerians from all walks of life.
“The Summit Joint Secretariat, through its Head, Sir Olawale Okunniyi, has already invited all stakeholders, institutions, political actors, civil society organizations, the media, and the general public to support and participate in the proceedings of this historic summit as Nigeria takes a decisive step towards a more equitable, participatory, and prosperous future.”
