THE former Minister of Education and CEO of Human Capital Africa, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has sharply criticized the ongoing constitutional amendment process by the National Assembly, branding it a “charade” and a misuse of public funds.
Speaking yesterday at the 7th Penpushing anniversary and annual lecture themed “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism: Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism”, Ezekwesili said the amendment effort lacks genuine intent and fails to address the nation’s foundational problems.
She argued that Nigeria requires a brand-new constitution to tackle deep-seated issues such as insecurity, poverty, unemployment, and the demand for secession in some regions.
According to her, only a people-driven constitution that emphasises devolution of powers, justice, equity, and true federalism can put the country on the right path.
“The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot solve Nigeria’s problems. It is a wasteful venture. When a building’s foundation is structurally defective, the right thing is to take it down, not patch it. The same applies to nation-building,” Ezekwesili said.
She urged the media to take a leading role in advocating for a constitutional conference where elected representatives can engage in honest conversations and draft a new constitution to be ratified through a referendum.
She cited Kenya as a model, saying its political stability today is partly due to such a constitutional overhaul.
“There’s nothing mysterious about good governance—it has been achieved elsewhere and can be done here. But politics across Africa has been hijacked by a ‘criminal enterprise gang’ who manipulate governance to serve their own interests,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the UK, Sarafadeen Ishola, said the country’s federal system is federal only in theory but fails in practice, lacking the autonomy and competitive structure necessary for national development. He called for restructuring as a national—not sectional—agenda.
Penpushing Media founder, Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, said the annual lecture aims to spark meaningful dialogue around Nigeria’s progress.
He noted the platform’s commitment to journalism that drives positive change, highlighting their efforts in training over 80 mass communication students and recognising outstanding graduates annually.
Goodwill messages at the event came from notable figures including former presidential spokesman Femi Adesina; Editorial Board Chair of Penpushing Media, Deaconess Funke Fadugba; and Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Chair of the Planning Committee.