Legal expert and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has stated that Nigeria needs a new constitution to stop the constant ethnic struggle for the presidency, as reported by PUNCH.
Speaking at The PUNCH Forum, Olanipekun said the current 1999 Constitution does not ensure fairness among Nigeria’s ethnic groups.
He argued that the document must be replaced with one that gives every group a sense of belonging.
He explained that the fight for power between regions is a result of deep feelings of unfairness.
According to him, every ethnic group believes it must produce the president to feel represented.
Olanipekun pointed to past administrations to show this pattern.
When Goodluck Jonathan, from the South, was president, the North complained about being left out.
When Muhammadu Buhari, from the North, came into power, the Yoruba also cried out about marginalisation.
Now, with Bola Tinubu, a Yoruba man, leading the country, Olanipekun noted that the North is again unhappy.
He said some northern leaders are already planning for 2027, just two years into Tinubu’s tenure.
He warned that if the system remains the same, the Yoruba might also complain once Tinubu leaves office.
Olanipekun asked an important question: how long will Nigeria continue this way?
He said people are only focusing on who gets power next, instead of fixing the system that causes the problem.
He believes the solution is a constitution that guarantees fairness and equal treatment, no matter where the president comes from.
“Now that Tinubu is in power, the North barely two years into his tenure is crying foul and plotting for 2027. Is this how we want to continue, grumbling without addressing the root cause?”
“The big question is: when Tinubu leaves, what becomes of the Yoruba? Then, we too will shout marginalisation.”
“But if we had a grundnorm that is fair, equitable, usable and defensible, no one would care who governs. Why can’t we have a constitution that guarantees equity, where no one is bothered about where the President comes from?” he said.
