Tambuwal, Gbenga Daniel To Chair Committee For Nat’l Confab On Constitutional Democracy The Patriots, a group of eminent Nigerians who are actively involved in public discourse, seeking to address critical issues facing the nation, has called for a true federal constitution as a panacea for the myriads of problems confronting the nation.The call was made on Thursday in Lagos at the unveiling of members of its forthcoming National Political Summit due to take place between May 28 and 29.Elder statesman and former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the Chairman of The Patriots, in his speech, said for the country to get out of the present economic and security challenges, there was the need for a true constitutional democracy whereby a people’s constitution that would ensure equity would be enthroned.The elder statesman said The Patriots are driven by a united Nigerian under constitutional democracy, noting that they desire a good transformation of Nigeria.Anyaoku said, “As we all know, The Patriots are driven by commitment to a united Nigeria under an appropriate constitutional democracy,” he noted.“We strongly desire the transformation of Nigeria from the diverse country which it is at present and which some have described as no more than a geographic expression to a united Nigerian nation where all its citizens will be imbued with a strong sense of patriotism.“The indisputable fact is that Nigeria is a pluralistic country whose component parts are ethnic groups that have lived in their separate geographic areas for centuries with their different cultures and languages.“In coming together as one country, the constitution that is the ground norm; it is the fundamental basis of the country’s existence, hence, the overriding importance of getting the constitution right in order to ensure democracy and justice for all citizens in order to have a stable and progressive nation.“It is beyond doubt that the experience of countries all over the world has shown that if pluralistic countries are to survive as individual united entities, they must have a truly federal constitution which devolves power to the federating units in a relatively powerful extent in order to enable them to plan for their development and internal security.“The Patriots are of the view that the major challenges currently facing Nigeria can be better tackled with a truly federal constitution. The challenges of widespread insecurity of life and property, the underperforming economy which is responsible for the massive poverty and youth unemployment, and the declining standing of Nigeria within the comity of nations. The extant constitution that is the 1999 constitution however amended will not serve our pluralistic country of Nigeria well,” he said.He said further, “The coordinating committee which we are inaugurating today will have the following responsibilities: to invite and motivate all relevant stakeholders and resource persons to participate at the national summit, to determine the most suitable venue for the national summit, and to mobilise all appropriate logistics and facilities for hosting the national summit, to fine-tune and finalise summit agenda and programme, to identify and mobilise support partnership and solidarity towards the successful hosting of the summit, to work out and determine inclusive pan-Nigerian participation at the national summit, to avoid any form of marginalisation, to facilitate interface and engagement of state actors, government, and the private sector towards the hosting of the summit and implementation of the summit resolution, and finally to undertake any other critical tasks and intervention that may be requested of the committee by the summit conveners.“I believe that under the co-chairmanship of the distinguished and experienced former governors and senators, Chief Gbenga Daniel and Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, this organising committee will deliver a successful summit.”Also speaking, co-chair of the committee, Senator Gbenga Daniel, listed the areas of focus of the committee to include electoral reforms, judicial independence, devolution of power, civic education, political literacy among the youths and women, and constitutional review.On his own, former Governor Aminu Tambuwal, also a co-chair, said they are committed to the course.Other members of The Patriots, who are also in the committee and spoke at the event included Kayode Fayemi, Labaran Maku, Awolowo Dosunmu and Pauline Tallen, among others.Meanwhile, among the members of the committee unveiled by The Patriots’ chairman, Anyaoku, are Gbenga Daniel, Aminu Tambuwal, Boni Haruna, Donald Duke, Kayode Fayemi, Labaran Maku, Awolowo Dosunmu, Ben Obi, Shehu Sanni, Daisy Danjuma, Aisha Ismail.Others are Prof. Pat Utomi, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Madam Shekari Charity, Hajia (Dr) Aisha Ismail, Sen. Christie Anyanwu; Ms Ankio Briggs and Dr. Olu Usim Wilson.The rest are Prof. Anthony Kila, Veteran Olawale Okunniyi, Alhaji Shettimah Yerima, Hon. Olatorera, Folarin Rotimi Williams, and Obongawan Barbara Etim James.According to an earlier statement issued by the Joint Secretariat of The Patriots and Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG), initiators of the National Summit, the historic Pan Nigerian Confab is being put together to Xray and chart a new course for Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, 25 years after civil rule was reinstituted, especially with stakeholders’ response and intervention to the heightening insecurity and instability in parts of the country.