THE PATRIOTS have been a leading elite group critiquing the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as a military imposition, lacking the imprimatur of the Nigerian peoples.
In their quest for a democratic peoples’ constitution, the Patriots and the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG) organised a National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy on 16th and 17th July in Abuja. The Summit’s 22 resolutions are unassailable.
Unfortunately, the Patriots glossed over a resolution dear to the Nigerian peoples: the justiciability of socio-economic rights. A democratic peoples’ constitution should be defined by its protection and defense of citizen rights, which could only be effectively defended and entrenched by making them justiciable. The struggle for the justiciability of these rights should be sustained and elevated to a higher level till they become constitutional.
Besides a few constitutional lawyers, conservative elites, and principal functionaries of government, who wouldn’t want a new constitution for the nation?
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The constitutional lawyers are only put off by the Patriots lack of political mandate to spearhead a constitutional conference. Whilst the conservative elites have a restructuring phobia, regarding the campaign for a new constitution as an agenda to redesign the nation. And most of government functionaries are apprehensive of a new constitutional order, which could sweep them away from their posts.
Since the colonial epoch, the restructuring agenda hasn’t been vacated from the nation’s political space. And since a civil war and past restructurings didn’t balkanise the nation, why should Nigerians be apprehensive of another round of restructuring, regarding the Patriots call for genuine federalism and geographical restructuring with a pinch of salt, as it is a plot for another civil war?
Who else, besides those calling the shots in Abuja, wouldn’t want federal powers to be devolved to other tiers of government? And with lamentations over the cost of governance, there are very few Nigerians who would object to the Patriots’ resolutions for a cost-effective government, or dumping the presidential system for a cheaper model, thereby deflating the do-or-die trajectory for the control of Nigeria’s powerful federal government by factions of the ruling class.
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Since electoral and judicial gangsterism ambushed Nigeria’s democracy, there have been calls for genuine electoral and judicial reforms. Besides the Nigerian justices, some of whom pull strings to be appointed to Election Petition Tribunals, corrupt electoral officers, and the mandate snatching politicians, who would object to these reforms in Nigeria today?
Critical democratic stakeholders have been expressing concerns on the unconscionable cross-carpeting, defining Nigeria’s APC highjacked democracy. Besides those feeding fat from the defections, and the ruling party, who would pick holes with the Patriots’ resolution on cross-carpeting?
The Patriots resolution on corruption and breach of public trust resonates with majority of Nigerians. It is only a few powerful incorrigibly corrupt Nigerians who would be uncomfortable with it.
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Those denied political platforms to contest elections by political entrepreneurs, would be enthusiastic about the Patriots resolution on independent candidature. As Nigerians in diaspora would be elated by resolution 17 which would end their siddon–look trajectory in future elections.
As victims of electoral and judicial gangsterism, either Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi was denied victory in the last presidential election. And most of the leading political oppositionists have been pushed into the ADC by the fascistic trajectory of Nigeria’s democracy. None of them would lose sleep over the Patriots resolutions.
Certainly, not ordinary Nigerians, students, Nigerians in diaspora, market and rural women, most of the political oppositionists, critical democratic stakeholders, the trade unions, etc. These would certainly have no objections with the Patriots resolutions and constitutional vision. Therefore, the bulk of the nation would solidly identify with their cause, it is the only pathway to save Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
If the resolutions constitute the minimum framework for the democratic peoples’ constitution, there are very few Nigerians who wouldn’t share that constitutional vision. The Summit’s resolutions echo like the political charter of Nigeria’s oppositional coalition.
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Unfortunately, the Patriots glossed over a resolution dear to the Nigerian peoples: the justiciability of socio-economic rights. A democratic peoples’ constitution should be defined by its protection and defense of citizen rights, which could only be effectively defended and entrenched by making them justiciable. The struggle for the justiciability of these rights should be sustained and elevated to a higher level till they become constitutional.
Since the Patriots are pulling away the rug from the feet of the National Assembly, the body responsible for constitutional amendments, reviews, etc; its members would be averse to the urgent demand for a new constitution, convocation of a constituent assembly and a national referendum – a usurpation of their powers.
As the 2014 Constitutional Conference was dominated by government appointed members, the APC regime would be put off by the Patriots demand for a constituent assembly with politically non-partisan members and interest groups, unamenable to governmental manipulation. Herein lies the lurking danger as the Patriots strive for a democratic peoples’ constitution.
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The big shots in government, some of the Nigerian justices, mandate snatching politicians, political entrepreneurs smiling to the banks every election season, and the incorrigibly corrupt public officers, would be miles apart from the Patriots’ vision for a new democratic constitution.
So, in Nigeria today who isn’t a Patriot? To address the question, another poser is required: having gone public with their resolutions on the future of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, who are opposed to them?
Certainly, not ordinary Nigerians, students, Nigerians in diaspora, market and rural women, most of the political oppositionists, critical democratic stakeholders, the trade unions, etc. These would certainly have no objections with the Patriots resolutions and constitutional vision. Therefore, the bulk of the nation would solidly identify with their cause, it is the only pathway to save Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
Therefore, civil society groups, student bodies, trade unions, women organisations, peasant organisations, etc., all oppressed Nigerians shouldn’t rest their oars till the Patriots’ agenda is divorced from vested political interests and sustained to a fruitful end.
Jahun, a public affairs analyst, writes from Dutse, Jigawa State capital. He can be reached on 07039038088.
