|By Adejumo Adekunle
…Ex-minister faults National Assembly’s effort as wasteful
…Calls for fresh constitution anchored on justice, equity and power devolution
Former Minister of Education and CEO of Human Capital Africa, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has slammed the ongoing constitutional amendment process by the National Assembly, describing it as an expensive charade and a waste of public funds.
Ezekwesili, who delivered the keynote address at the 7th Penpushing anniversary and annual lecture in Abeokuta, Ogun State, declared that the effort will not resolve the deep-rooted imbalances and structural defects bedevilling the country. The event’s theme was “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism, Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism.”
Speaking passionately, the former minister argued that what Nigeria needs is not minor amendments to a faulty document but a new constitution that prioritises power devolution, equity, justice, and fairness for all citizens regardless of ethnic or regional affiliations.
“The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot work, it cannot address our problem, it is a charade and sheer waste of resources,” she said. “The demands for a new constitution is a matter of life and death. When the foundation of a building is structurally defective, the only solution is to take down the whole structure, not patch it up.”
Ezekwesili also criticised the current state of Nigerian politics, claiming it has been “hijacked and turned into a criminal enterprise gang,” while insisting that good governance is not a mystery but an achievable reality.
She further accused the National Assembly of ignoring citizens’ demands for a foundational reset of the Nigerian state, choosing instead to embark on a costly exercise that will offer “little to no assistance in reorganising the nation.”
In his remarks, the chairman of the event, Ambassador Sarafa Ishola, who is the immediate past Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, backed the call for restructuring. He maintained that true federalism demands responsible governance, institutional clarity, budgetary fairness, and accountability driven by the people.
According to him, restructuring should not be seen as a regional or ethnic agenda but as a necessary national revival strategy that can unlock Nigeria’s full administrative and economic potential.
Earlier, Penpushing Media founder, Mr Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, explained that the purpose of the annual lecture is to deepen public discourse on issues that can enhance the country’s greatness. He revealed that the online platform has trained over 80 students across various institutions and instituted annual awards for the best graduating Mass Communication students in higher institutions.
