Anyaoku-led Patriots’ visit to Tinubu generates repulsion as analyst says it’s tactical error

The visit to President Bola Tinubu by the Patriots led by former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku with a request to convene a national constituent assembly with the mandate to draft a new constitution has generated repulsion among some Nigerians who have launched fullscale attack on the group for its move.

Speaking in an interview with Metronetworknews, a public affairs analyst, Olufemi Adegbulugbe, said the visit by the Patriots at this time was wrong as well as lack empathy and emotional intelligence, considering the recent and ongoing loss of lives on the streets of Nigeria.

His words, ” On 09 August 2024, the Patriots, led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General visited President Tinubu with a request to convene a national constituent assembly with the mandate to draft a new constitution.

“I have personally, in recent past, acknowledged the work done by the Patriots on the subject of Restructuring and a new constitution that represents, We, the people.

“However, there is valid reasons to interrogate the timing, the objective as well as the demands by the Patriots, regarding this visit.

“Nigeria is going through what I will refer to as a serious crisis, with millions of Nigerians on the streets.It is therefore valid to challenge the timing of this ill-timed visit by the Patriots.

“While we acknowledge the importance and urgency of the restructuring agenda, the visit by the Patriots at this time was wrong. It can be described as lacking in empathy and emotional intelligence, considering the recent and ongoing loss of lives on the streets of Nigeria.

“The objective of the visit was to initiate a restructuring agenda through Mr President via an executive bill to convey a national constituent assembly. In my opinion, we have gone through this route before with the 2014 national confab and the reports are stuck away gathering dust.

“I am disappointed that the Patriots, a distinguished gathering of eminent Nigerians will take this route, to repeat what was done 10 years ago.

“We are all aware that virtually every ethnic nationality have met individually and collectively as groups, in recent times, to discuss and present their positions on restructuring. A good example is the planned global Conference on restructuring hosted by Nadeco-USA plus, scheduled for October 3-5 in Houston. It is expected that papers and positions by all ethnic nationalities will be harmonised in this Houston conference and a Houston declaration presented directly to the National Assembly. This approach by Nadeco USA plus is a valid and strong alternative solution to another time wasting and expensive, repetitive National conference. I would have expected and I believe that the Patriots will be present in Houston to participate in a genuine We, the people of Nigeria conference on Restructuring. I am not a member of Nadeco USA and do not speak for Nadeco USA. But I believe that we should all have a common approach to the restructuring agenda. The other day, it was Dr Fapohunda that made the same move that Patriots executed today.

”The visit by the Patriots to Mr President achieved nothing and was a tactical error by the Patriots. The President informed the Patriots that restructuring was not on his priority list or was low on his to-do list. Nothing can be more embarrassing than this.

“However, the President’s position did not come to me as a surprise.I would not expect a President that is so much in love with power and authority to devolve such power willingly.

“Going forward, I advise the Patriots to go back to the drawing board. The route to Restructuring is not Aso Rock but the National Assembly. The NASS, as constituted are direct representatives of the people. We do not need to have access to or access the National Assembly through Mr President. Also, we do not need a constituent national assembly since we have a democratically constituted NASS”.