Ahead of the proposed National Political Summit on a New Constitution for Nigeria, eminent Yoruba leaders and various interest groups from the South-West geo-political zone converged in Lagos on Thursday for a town hall meeting.
They met at Oodua House, around Toyin Street, in Ikeja.
In attendance were members of The Patriots, Southwest, who convened the meeting.
They included Mogagi Gboyega Adejumo, who is the Chairman of the Advocacy and Mobilisation Committee of the group in the Southwest; Prof Anthony Kila, the National Chairman of Strategy, Advocacy and Mobilisation Committee of the group.
The former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Tunji Alapini as well as Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, were also in attendance.
Representatives from Afenifere, Yoruba Elders’ Group, Yoruba World Congress (UK chapter); Osupa Organisation, Yoruba Support Group, Yoruba United, among others were also in attendance.
The Patriots is a group of eminent Nigerians led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary- General of the Commonwealth.
The group had earlier this month announced a National Political Summit on Nigeria’s constitutional future, which is now proposed to take place in Abuja between June 10 and 12.
The National Coordination Committee for the summit comprises eminent Nigerians from across the country and co-chaired by Senators Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
Other prominent members of the committee include Kayode Fayemi, Labaran Maku, Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu, Pauline Tallen, Boni Haruna, Donald Duke, Ben Obi, Shehu Sanni, Daisy Danjuma, Aisha Ismail, Josephine Anenih, Shekari Charity, Christie Anyanwu, and Ankio Briggs.
However, it is expected that every geopolitical zone of the country will at the Abuja’s summit, present their respective positions that capture their specific and general interests that will form a comprehensive framework for the proposed new constitution for Nigeria.
Addressing journalists at the Lagos Town Hall meeting, the Chairman of Advocacy and Mobilisation Committee of the group in the Southwest, Mogagi Gboyega Adejumo highlighted the essence of the gathering, saying it is to serve as a platform to harmonise the South West’s contributions and demands regarding the proposed new constitution.
According to him, “we the people of Yoruba want to present position that will best suitable and represent our general interests as a nation and by extension as a country.
“That is why we call for this town hall meeting where we further discuss critical issues as affecting the Yorubas in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
“We’re talking about restructuring and true federalism, devolution of powers, resource control, security, judiciary reform, regional autonomy, local government administration, governance representation and inclusion, as well as cultural and linguistic identity and so forth.
“We all know, except we are deceiving ourselves, that our 1999 Constitution is not working. We need a new constitution that will be called people’s constitution and not the one given to us by the military.
“The new constitution will give us a new Nigeria. It will address the concerns of every geo-political zone in the country.
“So, it is not a forum of political parties. In fact, we are not partisans in any way. Our interest is Yoruba interest as far as Southwest is concerned. We want to see Yoruba people living happily and in peace. We want real development in our region.
“That is why we want to listen to people’s views and suggestions from different groups who are of Southwest origin within the country and abroad on what we should take to Abuja National Summit as a Yoruba nation.
“The discussion is not ended here today. We shall continue to dialogue both virtually and on sites as the time permits before we go to Abuja.
“By then, we would have aggregated all our concerns, suggestions and recommendations that we will take to Abuja national summit as our collective positions.
“It is high time we moved forward as a Yoruba nation and as Nigerians as a whole.”
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Patriot Strategy, Advocacy and Mobilisation Committee of the group, Prof. Anthony Kila, re-echoed the essence, adding that it is important that the voice of the Yoruba people is harmonized as one and clear and capable of influencing a good new constitution for Nigeria.
“So, we the Patriots are determined to contribute meaningfully to shaping a constitution that reflects equity, justice, and the aspirations of all Nigerians. I’m talking about a true people’s constitution that is faired to all Nigerians.
“So, this Lagos gathering is one of several regional consultations planned to take place across the country in preparation for the National Summit, which aims to produce a people-driven framework for Nigeria’s constitution of our collective dreams.”
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