This article is written in part to clarify the assumption by some people that a constitution is the panacea to solving a
country’s problem, that is to say that a constitution once written would safeguard a country’s political apparatuses and
existence. However, this article argues that while a well written constitution is very important it never the less guarantees
a country from encountering political debacles such as military intervention, military takeover, adherence to the rule of
law, maintenance of law and order, guarantee democracy. Thus, the most important features a constitution must possess in
order to a large extent guarantee a country’s existence as success or failure are; ownership, supreme, constitutionalism,
rule of law, written or unwritten, economic and social leverage. A constitution is something, which is paramount to
government or as Paine (1988) points out, ‘antecedent’ to government giving legitimacy to government and defining the
powers under which a government may act. As indicated in this article the constitution sets limits on both the powers,
which can be exercised and to the manner in which they may be exercised, and act, which is generally referred to as
‘constitutionalism.’ In addition, a constitution inherent different type of weaknesses emanating from internal and external
environment, that may come to haunt a country and this depends on the country and varies from country to country. This
article in part argues that a country’s political culture is fundamental to the failure or success of its constitution. Therefore
the success or failure of a constitution is not whether it is well written or not, and no matter how well written a
constitution may be if the echelons or leaders or custodians of it do not properly adhere to its tenets and principles and
flaunt it, as was often the case in Nigeria, it will very much often fails.