Pa Ajolore Says Nigeria Needs Transition, Not Elections; Calls for Renegotiation, Referendum and Restructuring
A 100-year-old Nigerian, Pa Ajolore, has argued that Nigeria does not need another round of elections as much as it needs a fundamental political transition, renegotiation of the country’s union and restructuring.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Friday night, anchored by Charles Anazodo, Pa Ajolore said Nigeria’s current challenges go beyond the personalities occupying political offices, insisting that the country is suffering from a deep-rooted leadership and structural problem.
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According to him, simply conducting elections under the existing system will not resolve the fundamental problems confronting the country.
Ajolore called for a process of renegotiation, referendum and restructuring, arguing that Nigerians must be given an opportunity to determine the kind of country they want to build.
He also questioned the continued description of Nigeria as a federation, arguing that the reality of the country’s political arrangement does not correspond with the principles of true federalism.
He particularly criticised the wording of the 1999 Constitution, including the phrase “We, the people of Nigeria,” describing it as deceptive because, in his view, the people were not genuinely involved in making the Constitution.
Ajolore also reflected on Nigeria’s history and expressed regret over the 1966 military coup, which he described as a major turning point and breaking point in the country’s political development.
He lamented what he described as the failure of today’s political class to put the interests of Nigerians above personal and political considerations.
Despite his criticisms, however, the centenarian said he has not given up on Nigeria.
Ajolore maintained that Nigeria remains a country worth believing in, expressing his faith that the nation can still overcome its difficulties.
“God loves Nigeria,” he said, stressing that the country’s problems should not make Nigerians lose hope in its future.
His intervention comes amid renewed national conversations about Nigeria’s political structure, constitutional reform, devolution of powers and the future of the country’s democratic system.
For Ajolore, the question facing Nigeria is therefore not simply who should win the next election, but whether the country should first undertake a fundamental political restructuring capable of producing a system that genuinely reflects the will and interests of its people.
