Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili has strongly criticized the National Assembly’s ongoing constitutional amendment process, calling it a wasteful exercise that fails to address Nigeria’s fundamental governance problems.
Speaking at the 7th Penpushing anniversary lecture in Lagos on Wednesday, the activist described the parliamentary review as “a conduit pipe to waste public funds” that ignores citizens’ demands for a completely new constitution.
“The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot work. It’s a charade and sheer waste of resources,” Ezekwesili declared in her keynote address titled “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism.” She argued that Nigeria needs a people-driven constitution to resolve secession agitations, insecurity, unemployment and systemic governance failures.
Comparing Nigeria’s situation to a structurally defective building, the former minister insisted: “When the foundation is bad, you don’t make adjustments – you rebuild completely.” She urged the media to lead demands for a sovereign national conference where Nigerians can draft a new constitution through referendum, similar to Kenya’s successful 2010 constitutional reform.
Ezekwesili accused Africa’s political class of operating as “criminal enterprise gangs” that hijack governance for selfish interests. “These people sit at the table and slice governance in directions that suit them while the public suffers,” she alleged, linking poor political leadership to Africa’s economic underperformance.
The event’s chairman, former Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK Sarafadeen Ishola, supported Ezekwesili’s position, noting that Nigeria’s federalism exists in principle but fails in practice. “True federalism requires responsible governance, fiscal equity and citizen-driven accountability,” he stated.
Penpushing Media founder Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji said the lecture aimed to elevate national discourse on Nigeria’s development challenges. The platform has trained over 80 mass communication students and instituted awards for top graduates as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Other speakers included former presidential spokesman Femi Adesina and veteran journalist Funke Fadugba, who joined calls for constitutional reforms to address Nigeria’s structural imbalances.
Ezekwesili’s blunt critique comes as the National Assembly continues its amendment process, which critics say avoids contentious issues like resource control and state police that could truly restructure Nigeria’s federation.
