In a groundbreaking announcement, the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-determination (NINAS) has embarked on an audacious mission to overhaul Nigeria’s constitutional framework. The alliance, having activated a Joint Multi-Regional Constitutional Force Majeure, declared a union dispute on December 16, 2020, citing profound constitutional grievances and proposing a comprehensive five-point plan for resolution.
The NINAS initiative unfolded in successive stages, involving consultations with the government, elected officials, and, subsequently, the diverse peoples and ethnic nations of Nigeria. The process garnered international attention, reaching influential bodies such as the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Trusteeship Council, and major global governments, including the United States, the European Union, China, and Russia.
Despite NINAS’ persistent efforts to redirect the trajectory of Nigeria’s constitutional future, the 2023 elections proceeded under the contentious 1999 Constitution. The aftermath witnessed a cascade of challenges, from economic turmoil to a mass exodus of disillusioned youth seeking refuge abroad. NINAS, steadfast in its assessment, declared a state of interregnum, asserting that the government lacked legitimacy due to the flawed electoral process.
In the wake of the 2023 electoral debacle, Nigeria grappled with what has now been termed “State Capture,” a scenario where all arms of government succumbed to the onslaught of a brazen power grab. The catastrophic consequences unfolded rapidly, encompassing fuel price hikes, currency devaluation, and a surge in the cost of living, prompting widespread dissatisfaction and prompting cries for revolution.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and other prominent figures joined the chorus, acknowledging that the unworkable 1999 Constitution lay at the root of Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges. With the nation at a crossroads, questions about the way forward resonated widely: “How do we rid ourselves of the 1999 Constitution?” and “Where does Nigeria go from here?”
NINAS boldly asserts that it has provided the most comprehensive plan for Nigeria’s constitutional reconstruction since its proclamation on December 16, 2020. Rejecting alternative suggestions, including calls for constitutional amendments through the National Assembly, NINAS emphasizes the urgency of an orderly and peaceful mechanism for Nigeria’s union reconstruction.
In a strategic move, NINAS declares the 1999 Constitution delegitimized and initiates processes for its decommissioning. The alliance invites all stakeholders, including the government, political parties, and statesmen, to embrace its proposition as the last available peaceful and orderly mechanism. Failure to do so, warns NINAS, could lead to disorderly and potentially violent disintegration, triggering an unprecedented refugee crisis.
NINAS concludes by unveiling its next steps, calling for joint action and disseminating its message to garner widespread support. The First Quarter of 2024 will witness a formal invitation for all who align with NINAS’ five-point proposition to join forces in an ambitious undertaking to renegotiate, reconfigure, and reconstruct Nigeria’s damaged constitutional foundation.
The stage is set for a monumental shift in Nigeria’s constitutional landscape, as NINAS spearheads a transformative journey towards a more inclusive and representative governance framework.
