Former Minister of Education and public policy expert, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has strongly criticized the ongoing constitutional amendment efforts by Nigeria’s National Assembly, branding the exercise as a “charade” and “sheer waste of public resources.”
Ezekwesili, also the CEO of Human Capital Africa and a Senior Economic Advisor at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AWEDPI), made the remarks during her keynote address at the 7th anniversary and annual lecture of Penpushing Media, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday.
Speaking on the theme “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism: Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism,” Ezekwesili declared that piecemeal amendments cannot correct the deeply rooted structural and institutional problems plaguing Nigeria’s governance system.
“The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot work, it cannot address our problem — it is a charade and sheer waste of resources,” she said.
“When an engineer tells you the foundation of a building is structurally defective, you don’t patch it — you take it down. This is the same with nation-building.”
Ezekwesili argued that what Nigeria needs is a brand new constitution anchored on equity, justice, devolution of powers, and true federalism that reflects the diversity and aspirations of all citizens, regardless of ethnicity or religion.
She also lamented the current state of politics in Nigeria, which she described as “a criminal enterprise gang,” but insisted that good governance is achievable with the right systems and accountability.
Also speaking at the event, Ambassador Sarafa Ishola, former Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, reinforced the call for restructuring. He stated that responsible governance, institutional clarity, and citizen accountability are critical to overcoming Nigeria’s systemic challenges.
“We must embrace restructuring not as a sectional agenda but as a national revival strategy,” Ishola said.
In his welcome address, Penpushing Media founder Mr. Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji highlighted the platform’s commitment to civic education and media development. He said the annual lecture aims to generate thoughtful discourse that could strengthen Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
The event also showcased Penpushing Media’s community impact, including the training of over 80 journalism students and instituting annual awards for outstanding graduates in Mass Communication.
