Kehinde Fajobi
At the launch of The Noble Academic and Patriot: A Biography of Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun in Lagos, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, emphasised that Nigeria’s future depends on abandoning the 1999 Constitution for a true federal structure.
The book event at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs attracted notable figures, including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
Anyaoku argued that Nigeria, a pluralistic society with diverse histories, cultures, and religions, suffers from a “unitary” constitution that stifles progress.
“The universal lesson is that pluralistic countries, which have survived as single political entities in unity and progress, are those that address their pluralism with genuine federal constitutions,” he said, citing India, Canada, and Switzerland as examples.
He contrasted this with countries that fractured due to insufficient federalism, like Yugoslavia and Sudan.
Anyaoku warned that Nigeria’s “underperforming economy, massive poverty, insecurity, and humongous corruption” require a genuine federal constitution for stability.
“Not even Angel Gabriel or Mala`ika Jibril could tackle Nigeria’s challenges with the 1999 Constitution,” he said, stressing the urgency for constitutional reform.
Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate, criticised Nigeria’s culture of celebrating individuals who contribute little to nation-building.
He called for higher regard for education and lamented that “we are choosing the least among us to be our role models.”
Book reviewer Dr. Fayemi detailed the biography’s focus on Osuntokun’s achievements and values, tracing his family’s history from military engagements in the Kiriji War to his father’s success as a trader in Ghana.