By TONY OKAFOR, Enugu
Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has expressed his profound regret at 92 years old that Nigeria is still a country and not a nation.
He emphasized the urgent need for restructuring and constitutional review to address the nation’s challenges.
Anyaoku made this call during the 14th Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series on Good Governance, held in Enugu, organized by Youths Affair International.
Themed “Imperative of Good Governance in Nigeria,” the lecture series saw Anyaoku reiterate his consistent advocacy for a genuine democratic constitution that would address Nigeria’s pluralism.
He lamented that the current 1999 Constitution, as amended, falls short in this regard.
“I am 92 years old, and I have had the privilege of living through Nigeria’s history. My regret is that Nigeria is still a country and has not become a nation.
“We are still struggling to become a nation because some of the challenges we face now can be better managed if we were a nation.”
Anyaoku highlighted the importance of a genuine federal constitution, citing examples of pluralistic countries that have succeeded or failed in addressing their diversity.
He noted that good governance in Nigeria is contingent on a constitution that allows and encourages it, unlike the current setup that puts the centre at the apex of the nation.
“The constitution we have now puts the centre at the apex of the nation, and the federated units depend on it for survival, unlike what we had in the days of Obafemi Awolowo and Michael Okpara,” Anyaoku recalled.
“We were developing faster in the first six years of our independence because we had a genuine federal constitution that allowed the four regions to take care of their internal developments,” the former Commonwealth scribe stated.
Anyaoku praised Mbah’s leadership, describing him as a true performing governor who has transformed Enugu State into a hub of industrial, educational, and agricultural innovation.
In a keynote speech, former Foreign Affairs Minister and Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, emphasized the need for constitutionalism and the rule of law.
“We must basically agree on the way forward, not for the North Central, North East, North West, or South West, but all of us together,” Gambari stressed.
Governor Peter Mbah, who hosted the lecture, noted that good leadership must be centered on the people, saying, “Good intentions alone will not translate to good leadership.”
