Sule Lamido, the former Governor of Jigawa State, has spoken out against the recent call for the creation of a new constitution for Nigeria, led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku and his group, The Patriots. Lamido insists that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the 1999 Constitution, arguing that the real issue lies in its implementation by those in power.
Lamido, who also served as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed his views during an interview with THISDAY newspaper. He strongly disagreed with the idea that the country’s problems can be solved by simply drafting a new constitution. Instead, he pointed out that the frequent calls for constitutional amendments and new drafts are distractions from the real issue, which is the failure of those in authority to effectively operate the existing constitution.
Using a vivid analogy, Lamido likened the situation to seeing smoke coming out of a chimney and choking from it. He explained that instead of blaming the chimney, one should find the source of the smoke and fix the problem. He believes that blaming the constitution is misguided because a constitution, like a chimney, is just a structure—it’s the people who are supposed to manage it properly.
“Why do you blame the Constitution?” Lamido asked. “The Constitution does not think like humans. It cannot contain every solution to your problems. It is supposed to guide you, not solve your problems for you. The people who are supposed to operate and implement the constitution are Nigerians.”
Lamido criticized the attitude of constantly amending or creating new constitutions as a knee-jerk reaction to every problem Nigeria faces. He questioned how many constitutions the country needs before it finally gets things right. According to him, it doesn’t matter how well-written a constitution is if those responsible for operating it fail to do so effectively.
He observed that Nigeria’s current state of turmoil, with various regions and groups fighting among themselves, is not the fault of the constitution. Instead, he argued, the blame lies with those who manage the constitution. “It is not the constitution; it is the operation of the constitution. There is no perfect human being or perfect constitution anywhere in the world but we, the operators,” he said.
Lamido went on to argue that in other countries, constitutions work well because they are managed properly. He suggested that Nigeria’s problems are not inherent in the constitution itself but in the attitudes and behaviors of those tasked with implementing it. “No matter how fast you run, your shadow will follow you,” he said, emphasizing that the country’s issues are rooted in the actions of its people rather than in its legal framework.
In his critique of the country’s reliance on foreign systems and ideas, Lamido also touched on how imported concepts, like the “car culture,” have been poorly adapted in Nigeria. He noted that these systems are not indigenous to Nigeria, and when they fail to work as intended, the blame should not be placed on the constitution or any external factors, but rather on how they are implemented within the country.
Turning to the issue of government palliatives, Lamido strongly criticized the practice, arguing that it has turned Nigerians into beggars. Palliatives, he said, should only be given to victims of natural disasters, not as a routine response to economic challenges. He believes that by constantly offering palliatives, the government is discouraging Nigerians from working and becoming self-reliant.
“The work of government is not to give palliatives; the work of government is to develop an environment where people will be able to earn a living on their own,” Lamido said. He emphasized that the government’s role should be to create opportunities for Nigerians to work and support themselves, rather than making them dependent on handouts.
Lamido also pointed out that the provision of palliatives as a long-term solution is not only ineffective but also damaging to the dignity of the people. He argued that it makes citizens more dependent on the government, which in turn leads to a condescending relationship between the government and the people. “By giving them palliatives, you are destroying their capacity and ability and making them more dependent,” he said.
He further explained that palliatives are meant to be temporary measures for people whose livelihoods have been destroyed by natural disasters such as floods, droughts, or earthquakes. However, in Nigeria, these measures have been misused as a tool to keep people dependent on the government, rather than empowering them to be self-sufficient.
Lamido called for an end to this practice, urging the government to focus on creating an environment that fosters development and economic growth. He argued that if the necessary environment is provided, Nigerians will be able to support themselves without needing any so-called palliatives. “Create the necessary environment and there will be development. If the necessary environment is created, no one will need any so-called palliative,” he stated.
