At a major national discourse held in Abeokuta, former Education Minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili fiercely criticized the ongoing constitutional amendment efforts by the National Assembly, labeling them a wasteful distraction from Nigeria’s deeper structural problems.
Delivering the keynote address at the 7th Penpushing Anniversary Lecture, Ezekwesili said the country’s political system had been hijacked by what she described as a “criminal enterprise gang,” whose self-serving interests have crippled governance and public welfare.
According to her, the current efforts to tweak the 1999 Constitution fall far short of the sweeping reforms Nigerians desperately need. She argued that only a fresh, people-led constitution could address issues such as inequality, insecurity, poverty, and widespread disenchantment with the Nigerian state.
Using the analogy of a collapsing building with a faulty foundation, Ezekwesili warned against attempts to fix a broken system with mere adjustments, insisting that the entire structure must be torn down and rebuilt through a constitutional conference driven by citizen participation.
“This isn’t just a legal issue—it’s a survival issue,” she declared. “We can’t patch up a broken foundation and expect stability.”
Ezekwesili called on the media to lead the charge in demanding a national constitutional conference that would allow citizens to freely debate and design a governance model that reflects Nigeria’s diversity and aspirations.
Also speaking at the event, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Sarafadeen Ishola, echoed Ezekwesili’s concerns. He said the current federal structure has failed to deliver real autonomy to Nigeria’s regions or drive competitive development across the country.
He stressed that true federalism must come with not just power devolution, but also accountability, clarity in governance, and fiscal fairness.
The lecture, hosted by Penpushing Media, also featured remarks from other dignitaries including former presidential spokesman Femi Adesina and rights advocate Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi. The event reinforced calls for a national reset that prioritizes structural change over political theatrics.
