Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, has called for the National Assembly to halt amendments to the 1999 Constitution, advocating for a new, people-driven constitution to reflect Nigeria’s collective will. Speaking at the 13th Convocation Lecture of Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti, titled “Nigeria yesterday, today and tomorrow:
Imperative of a sober and definitive recalibration,” Olanipekun described the 1999 Constitution as a “military albatross” that has lost legitimacy and requires a complete overhaul. He proposed a transitional period until 2031 to harmonize past constitutional efforts and draft a consensual document through public participation and a national referendum, which he said is supported by Section 14(2)(a) of the constitution affirming the people’s sovereignty.
Olanipekun suggested that states, not the Federal Government, should lead the restructuring of Nigeria’s federal system, determining governance frameworks via referendum, as the National Assembly cannot act as both judge and party. He also criticized rampant political defections, urging fidelity to party ideologies and citing President Bola Tinubu’s loyalty to a single party as a model.
Olanipekun praised Tinubu’s reintroduction of the old national anthem and called for deliberate steps to unify Nigeria’s diverse populace, emphasizing the need to produce citizens, not just people. ABUAD Chancellor Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) commended the lecture for aligning with his advocacy for a new constitution to drive Nigeria’s development.
