Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has dismissed the ongoing constitutional amendment process as a “charade” and “a sheer waste of public funds,” insisting that only a new constitution—not amendments—can resolve Nigeria’s structural challenges.
Speaking on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during her keynote address at the 7th Penpushing Anniversary and Annual Lecture, Ezekwesili argued that amending the current constitution cannot solve the country’s deeply rooted inequities and imbalances.
“The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot work. It cannot address our problems. It is a charade and a waste of resources,” she said.
The lecture, themed “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism: Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism,” brought together political figures, media professionals, and civil society leaders to examine pathways to good governance and sustainable federalism in Nigeria.
Ezekwesili, who is the CEO of Human Capital Africa and a Senior Economic Advisor at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AWEDPI), likened Nigeria’s flawed 1999 constitution to a structurally unsound building, arguing that no amount of patchwork can salvage it.
“When an engineer tells you the foundation of a building is defective, you bring the whole thing down. That’s the same with nation building. This expensive charade by the National Assembly won’t take us anywhere,” she stressed.
She further criticized what she described as the criminalization of politics in Nigeria, stating that the political space has been hijacked by interests that undermine good governance. Nonetheless, she emphasized that good governance is not a mystery and can be achieved through structural reforms that prioritize justice, fairness, and devolution of powers.
Also speaking at the event, Ambassador Sarafa Ishola, former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, echoed Ezekwesili’s concerns, calling for responsible governance, institutional clarity, budgetary equality, and citizen-led accountability as foundational to true federalism.
He urged Nigerians to embrace restructuring as a tool for national revival, rather than viewing it as a sectional or ethnic agenda.
In his welcome remarks, Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, founder of Penpushing Media, emphasized the goal of the annual lecture: to raise awareness on critical national issues that can strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and institutional development. He also highlighted the platform’s contributions to youth empowerment, noting that over 80 students have received training through its initiatives.
