Nigeria risks decline without new constitution, Attah warns

Former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Victor Attah, has warned that President Bola Tinubu could leave Nigeria in a worse state if he fails to deliver a new, people-driven constitution before leaving office.

Attah described the current 1999 Constitution as fundamentally flawed and unsuitable for Nigeria’s diversity, calling it a “unitary system masquerading as federalism.” He argued that mere amendments would be pointless, insisting on a complete rewrite.

Speaking ahead of a national political summit (July 15–17 in Abuja), led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Attah said Tinubu is uniquely placed to lead this reform, having faced the system’s “excesses” as Lagos governor—specifically when local government funds were seized.

Attah concluded that failure to enact a new constitution would worsen Nigeria’s situation rather than improve it.