By Editor
In a damning critique of Nigeria’s political leadership and economic policies, the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-determination (NINAS) Secretariat, led by Tony Nnadi, has once again sounded the alarm on the failing state of Nigeria. In response to former Governor Donald Duke’s public admonition to President Bola Tinubu, NINAS exposed the root causes of Nigeria’s persistent multidimensional dysfunctions, blaming them squarely on the country’s 1999 Unitary Constitution. According to Nnadi, without urgent constitutional restructuring, any attempts at reform are mere cosmetic fixes that cannot salvage the sinking ship that is Nigeria.
This fierce and timely response comes amidst Nigeria’s worsening economic woes, skyrocketing inflation, widespread protests, and mass disenchantment among citizens who continue to bear the brunt of poor governance and unchecked political corruption. NINAS, through a series of public broadcasts, is now calling for a systemic transition away from the current constitutional framework, positioning this as the only viable path to salvation for Nigeria and its oppressed peoples.
Donald Duke’s Homily: Bold Words, But Is It Enough?
In a widely circulated podcast, Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross River State, addressed Tinubu directly, lamenting the country’s catastrophic economic freefall. His speech, which has since gone viral, highlighted Tinubu’s failed policies and offered suggestions on how to reverse the national decline. Duke expressed deep concern over the country’s inability to manage its vast natural resources, its perpetual security crisis, the near-collapse of the judiciary, and the decrepit state of Nigeria’s healthcare and educational systems.
However, NINAS, through Tony Nnadi’s rejoinder, contends that Duke’s propositions, while bold and seemingly brilliant, are fundamentally flawed because they fail to address the core issue—the unconstitutional foundation on which Nigeria is built. According to Nnadi, no reform is possible without first dismantling the unworkable 1999 Constitution, which NINAS insists is the primary cause of Nigeria’s myriad problems.
A Nation Shackled by a Faulty Constitution: NINAS Unmasks Nigeria’s Core Issues
Nnadi’s rejoinder to Duke’s homily cuts straight to the heart of Nigeria’s dysfunction: the constitution. According to him, the Unitary Constitution of 1999 is a fraudulent and death-dispensing document that perpetuates inequality, stifles regional development, and concentrates power in the hands of a corrupt political elite. This document, imposed without the consent of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities, is responsible for the nation’s spiralling poverty, insecurity, and economic collapse.
NINAS argues that Duke’s failure to call for constitutional reconstruction is not just an oversight—it reeks of political dishonesty. For decades, NINAS has been advocating for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s constitution, and the fact that Duke, an experienced and well-informed politician, overlooks this critical point raises questions about his true intentions.
Duke’s record as Governor of Cross River State lends credence to NINAS’s argument. One of his hallmark achievements was the Tinapa Project, an ambitious plan to transform Cross River into a regional economic powerhouse. Yet, this project was frustrated by the very unitary system that Duke now seems to ignore. If Duke truly understands the structural problems that cripple Nigeria, why has he not joined forces with those pushing for constitutional reform?
Nnadi asks pointedly: “How can Donald Duke call for systemic reforms in security, economy, refineries, judiciary, healthcare, and education while refusing to acknowledge that all these problems stem from the unworkable unitary structure imposed by the 1999 Constitution?”
The Nigeria of Today: How Did We Get Here?
The NINAS rejoinder emphasises that Nigeria’s economic woes, governance failures, and growing insecurity are not isolated phenomena but symptoms of a deeper, systemic issue rooted in the constitution. Nnadi draws attention to a simple cause-effect analysis that reveals the 1999 Constitution as the primary driver behind Nigeria’s current predicament.
Nigeria, one of the world’s largest producers of crude oil, ironically struggles with fuel shortages and an over reliance on imported petroleum products. The country’s economy, once buoyed by oil wealth, is now a shadow of its former self, battered by a free-falling naira and massive debt. How did Nigeria get here? According to NINAS, the answer lies in the faulty constitution that prevents Nigeria from leveraging its resources for the benefit of its citizens.
The security situation is equally dire. NINAS points to the ongoing Fulani conquest agenda, which has fuelled widespread violence and insecurity across the country. This agenda, which NINAS alleges is being enabled by the unitary constitution, has left thousands dead and millions displaced. NINAS argues that the constitution’s concentration of power at the centre has made it impossible for regional governments to effectively address these security challenges.
Peter Obi and the Problem of Political Dishonesty
Nnadi also draws parallels between Donald Duke’s current stance and that of Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate. Obi, in 2021, famously described Nigeria as a vehicle with a “knocked engine,” arguing that the country needed a new engine rather than a new driver. Yet, by the time the 2023 elections rolled around, Obi had changed his tune, claiming that leadership, not the constitution, was the problem. NINAS contends that this shift was politically motivated, as Obi sought to present himself as the leader who could “fix” Nigeria without addressing the constitutional root of its problems.
The same, NINAS warns, may be true of Donald Duke. Could Duke’s failure to call for constitutional reform be a prelude to his own political ambitions? Is he positioning himself as a future presidential candidate who will promise to fix Nigeria while ignoring the structural issues that make meaningful reform impossible?
NINAS’s No-Elections-Under-1999-Constitution Campaign: A Call for Immediate Transition
In its rejoinder, NINAS reiterates its position that no further national elections should be held under the 1999 Constitution. According to NINAS, elections under the current constitution are nothing more than a means for corrupt politicians to maintain their stranglehold on power. Instead, NINAS is calling for an immediate transitioning process similar to what South Africa did in 1990 to dismantle apartheid.
The NINAS 5-Point Transitioning Proposition offers a comprehensive framework for constitutional reconstruction, which NINAS believes is the only viable way to prevent Nigeria from descending into anarchy. This proposal includes the establishment of a transitional government, the decommissioning of the 1999 Constitution, and the convening of regional assemblies to determine the future structure of the Nigerian Union.
NINAS warns that failure to initiate this process will lead to the inevitable collapse of Nigeria. As political merchants across party lines continue their state-capture mission, enabled by the unitary constitution, Nigeria teeters on the brink of disaster. The current state of affairs, NINAS argues, is unsustainable.
The Fulani Conquest Agenda and the Economic Freefall: Twin Evils of Nigeria’s Decline
NINAS does not mince words in its assessment of Nigeria’s current crisis. The organisation identifies two primary drivers of Nigeria’s decline: the Fulani conquest agenda, which it claims is responsible for the country’s insecurity, and the state-capture gambit led by Tinubu and his political allies, which is behind Nigeria’s economic freefall. Both, according to NINAS, are enabled by the 1999 Constitution.
The Fulani conquest agenda, according to NINAS, has turned vast swathes of Nigeria into war zones. The constitution, which centralises control over security forces, has made it impossible for regional governments to defend their people from this onslaught. Meanwhile, Tinubu’s state-capture mission has plunged Nigeria into economic ruin, as corrupt political elites prioritise their own interests over those of the Nigerian people.
The Path Forward: NINAS’s 5-Point Transitioning Proposition
NINAS’s 5-Point Transitioning Proposition offers a clear path forward for Nigeria. This meticulously crafted framework calls for the immediate initiation of a transitioning process to reconstruct Nigeria’s union. The goal is to replace the current unitary system with a more equitable and workable federal structure, one that allows Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities to determine their own future.
This transition, NINAS argues, is the only way to prevent the violent disintegration of Nigeria. The current system is unsustainable, and without immediate action, Nigeria is headed for a catastrophic collapse.
In conclusion, NINAS’s rejoinder to Donald Duke’s homily serves as a wake-up call for all Nigerians. The organisation’s message is clear: without constitutional reconstruction, there can be no meaningful reform. Duke’s suggestions, while well-intentioned, are ultimately futile if they do not address the root cause of Nigeria’s problems—the 1999 Constitution.
