Wole Olanipekun SAN Calls for Immediate Replacement of 1999 Constitution, Says It Cannot Guarantee Equity
Legal icon and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Wole Olanipekun, has called for the urgent replacement of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, describing it as a fundamentally flawed document that cannot deliver equity, justice, or national unity. He warned that ethnic unrest would continue unless Nigeria embraces a truly indigenous and people-driven constitution.
Speaking on Tuesday at The PUNCH Forum held at The PUNCH Place on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Olanipekun delivered a keynote address titled “The Imperatives of Restructuring Nigeria.”
He said the persistent cries of marginalisation from different regions of the country stem from deep-rooted structural imbalances enshrined in the current constitution, which he argued lacks legitimacy and does not reflect the reality or aspirations of Nigerians.
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Olanipekun questioned the constant regional discontent regardless of who holds power, stressing that no part of the country should feel excluded in a truly fair system. According to him, if Nigeria had a just and equitable constitution, the struggle for presidential power would not be so desperate.
He also condemned the growing ethnic hostility, particularly online, warning that Nigeria is mismanaging its diversity. He shared personal experiences from the 2023 elections, saying he was targeted with ethnic insults for simply expressing different views.
Rejecting the common belief that Nigeria’s main problems lie with the people rather than the constitution, Olanipekun pointed to the over 130 amendments made to the 1999 Constitution in just 25 years as proof of its fundamental flaws.
He emphasized that genuine restructuring — especially a return to true federalism — must begin with a brand-new constitutional foundation. He argued that federalism, where autonomous regions unite under one nation, is the most practical and fair system for a country as diverse as Nigeria.
Olanipekun also proposed a national conversation around Nigeria’s colonial past, including revisiting the 1914 amalgamation and possibly replacing the country’s name, “Nigeria,” which was coined by colonialist Flora Shaw.
He cited the political structures of pre-colonial Yoruba kingdoms, like the Oyo Empire, as examples of indigenous governance that reflected checks and balances long before Western systems. He called for a legal framework rooted in Nigeria’s own historical and cultural reality.
Closing his remarks, Olanipekun urged political and civic leaders to treat this period as a crucial opportunity to redefine Nigeria’s future.
“I’ve never called for Nigeria’s breakup. I believe in our unity—if we do what is right. But if we fail to restructure, we are being unfair to the next generation. This is the time to jaw-jaw and get it right,” he said.
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