Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and retired Foreign Affairs Minister, General Ike Nwachukwu, have renewed their call for the restructuring of Nigeria and a comprehensive review of the constitution, stressing that these steps are essential to solving the country’s lingering governance challenges.

The statesmen made their remarks at the 14th edition of the “Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series on Good Governance” held in Enugu on Tuesday. The event, organised by Youths Affairs International, bore the theme, The Imperative of Good Governance in Nigeria.

General Nwachukwu, who chaired the occasion, said he had consistently supported the restructuring of Nigeria into a more functional federation. According to him, granting states genuine autonomy would allow governance to operate more efficiently and draw development closer to the grassroots.

He noted that under a restructured framework, states could make better use of their natural, mineral, and human resources, leading to more balanced national development.

“We need a truly people-driven constitution created with input from Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities and interest groups,” Nwachukwu said. He argued that the current 1999 Constitution acts as a barrier to progress and undermines peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s peoples.

“The failure of governance is evident in the political leadership’s inability to identify systemic problems and take decisive action. I advocate for adherence to the rule of law, an independent and upright judiciary, stronger and more responsive armed forces, and the creation of state and community policing structures,” he added.

Chief Anyaoku, aligning with Nwachukwu’s views, said he had long championed the need for a truly democratic constitution that reflects Nigeria’s ethnic and cultural diversity.

“I am 92 years old and have had the rare opportunity of witnessing the country’s evolution first-hand. My deepest regret is that Nigeria is still merely a country, not yet a nation,” Anyaoku said.

He noted that Nigeria’s inability to transition into a cohesive nation-state stems from its failure to effectively manage its pluralism, something that could be achieved with a genuinely federal constitution.

“Many pluralistic countries around the world have remained united and functional by embracing true federalism. Those that failed to do so, like Sudan, have split. Sudan broke into Sudan and South Sudan because it could not reconcile its internal diversities,” Anyaoku explained.

He also asserted that good governance is only possible when the constitution itself fosters and supports it.

“The present constitution centralises too much power in Abuja, leaving the federating units financially dependent. Contrast that with the early years of independence, when the regions under leaders like Obafemi Awolowo and Michael Okpara could independently pursue their development agendas. We saw faster progress then, thanks to the federal structure in place at the time,” he recalled.

Anyaoku expressed gratitude to Governor Peter Mbah for hosting the lecture and commended Youths Affairs International for its continued commitment to organising the event, now in its fourteenth year.

He described Governor Mbah as a forward-thinking leader who has turned Enugu into a centre for industrial, educational, and agricultural innovation.

Adding a contrasting perspective, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Foreign Affairs Minister and Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, emphasised the importance of constitutionalism and the rule of law over wholesale constitutional reform.

Delivering the keynote address, Gambari said, “What matters is not a perfect constitution, which doesn’t exist anywhere, but a collective agreement on how we want to move forward. Through civic education, mutual respect, and unwavering commitment to the rule of law, we can make any constitution work to serve the common good and keep power in check.”

In his closing remarks, Governor Mbah remarked that sincere intentions are not enough to deliver good leadership, which must always remain focused on the needs of the people.

“It is a privilege to host this lecture series. Chief Anyaoku is a towering figure whose life and service continue to inspire,” Mbah said.