Abeokuta, Ogun State – Former Minister of Education and CEO of Human Capital Africa, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has described the ongoing constitutional amendment process as a “charade” and a “waste of public resources,” insisting that only a brand-new constitution can address Nigeria’s deep-rooted imbalances.
Ezekwesili made the assertion on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the 7th Penpushing Media Anniversary and Annual Lecture held in Abeokuta. Speaking on the theme, “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism: Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism,” she emphasized that the country’s structural challenges demand a complete overhaul rather than piecemeal amendments.
“The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot work. It cannot address our problems. It is a charade and sheer waste of resources. The demand for a new constitution is a matter of life and death,” Ezekwesili declared.
Using an analogy, she likened the 1999 Constitution to a structurally defective building foundation:
“When the engineer tells us that the foundation of a building is structurally defective, we don’t just patch it—we take it down to avoid endangering lives. This is the same with nation-building.”
She stressed that a new constitution should prioritize devolution of powers, justice, equity, and fairness across ethnic and regional lines. According to her, only such a framework can lay the groundwork for a truly united and prosperous Nigeria.
The Senior Economic Advisor at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AWEDPI) also lamented the capture of Nigerian politics by criminal interests, describing governance today as “a criminal enterprise gang.”
In his remarks, chairman of the occasion and former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Amb. Sarafa Ishola, echoed Ezekwesili’s call for systemic reform. He emphasized the importance of citizen-led accountability, institutional clarity, and equal budgetary distribution as key pillars of true federalism.
“Restructuring should not be seen as a sectional demand but a national revival strategy,” Ishola stated.
Earlier, Penpushing Media founder Mr. Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji explained that the annual lecture is part of the platform’s efforts to stimulate discourse on issues that can reposition the nation for greatness.
He added that Penpushing has trained over 80 students from different tertiary institutions and annually honors the best graduating Mass Communication student with a special award.
The event drew stakeholders from the media, civil society, academia, and government, with participants urging leaders to prioritize constitutional reforms that reflect the will of the Nigerian people.