Former Minister of Education and Chief Executive Officer of Human Capital Africa, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has come down hard on the National Assembly, describing the ongoing constitutional amendment process as a charade and a colossal waste of public funds.
Ezekwesili, fondly called “Oby,” called on the federal lawmakers to stop the political drama and heed citizens’ calls for a brand new constitution that will address Nigeria’s foundational problems.
Speaking on Thursday in Abeokuta during the 7th Penpushing anniversary and annual lecture, the respected public policy advocate said the current amendment efforts by the National Assembly will not solve the country’s deep-seated challenges.
Delivering her keynote address on the theme “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism, Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism,” Ezekwesili argued that only a fresh constitution rooted in justice, equity, fairness, and the devolution of powers can rescue Nigeria from its persistent failures.
Her words: “The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot work. It cannot address our problem. It is a charade and sheer waste of resources. The demand for a new constitution is a matter of life and death.”
She likened the situation to a building with a defective foundation, stating that just as no reasonable person would patch such a building instead of bringing it down for safety, Nigeria must rebuild with a solid constitutional framework.
“For instance, when the engineer tells us that the foundation of a building is structurally defective, is it not to take the whole building down because it will continue to constitute an endangerment to the people? You won’t say, ‘Oga, can we just do some little adjustment to the building?’ No, it won’t work. And this is the same with nation building,” she said.
According to Ezekwesili, the expensive amendment exercise being carried out by the lawmakers is not only unhelpful but dangerous.
She further lamented that politics in Nigeria has been hijacked and reduced to a “criminal enterprise gang,” adding that good governance is not a mystery and can be achieved if the right systems are put in place.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the occasion and immediate past Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Ishola, emphasized that restructuring must be viewed as a strategy for national revival, not a sectional demand.
Ishola said: “Responsible governance, institutional clarity, budgetary equality, and citizen-driven accountability are all essential components of true federalism.”
He noted that overcoming administrative inefficiencies in the country would require sincere commitment to restructuring and a shift in national mindset.
Earlier in his welcome address, the founder of Penpushing Media, Mr. Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, stated that the purpose of the annual lecture is to stimulate national discourse on critical issues that can enhance Nigeria’s greatness.
Kayode-Adedeji added that the online news platform has contributed to human capital development by training over 80 students from various institutions.
He also announced the platform’s annual award initiative for the best graduating Mass Communication students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
