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Nigeria needs new Constitution, not amendments – Ezekwesili
A former Minister of Education and Chief Executive Officer of Human Capital Africa, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, on Thursday knocked the National Assembly over its ongoing constitutional amendment efforts, which she described as a charade and a conduit pipe to waste public funds.
Ezekwesili lamented that Nigeria’s political space, along with much of Africa’s, has been hijacked by what she called a criminal enterprise gang that now dictates the direction of governance in their interest, while the welfare of the larger populace suffers.
The former minister stated this on Thursday in her keynote address, titled “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism: Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism,” delivered at the 7th Penpushing Anniversary and Annual Lecture in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
She argued that instead of heeding widespread demands for a new constitution capable of correcting imbalances and inequalities in the current system, the National Assembly chose to pursue a process that would yield little or no meaningful change.
Ezekwesili explained that agitations for secession, widespread insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and poor governance could only be addressed through a people-driven constitution that guaranteed devolution of powers, equity, and justice across ethnic and regional lines.
“The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot work; it cannot address our problem. It is a charade and a sheer waste of resources.
The demand for a new constitution is a matter of life and death,” she said.
Using a construction analogy, she stressed the futility of trying to fix a flawed structure with patchwork solutions.
“For instance, when the engineer tells us that the foundation of a building is structurally defective, is it not to take the whole building down? Because it will continue to constitute an endangerment to the people.
“You won’t say, ‘Oga, can we just do some little adjustment to the building?’ No, it won’t work.
“And this is the same with nation-building. So this expensive charade that the National Assembly is embarking on and spending money on won’t take us anywhere,” she added.
Ezekwesili called on the media to take the lead in advocating for a new constitution that reflects the will of the people.
“The media should take the front seat and be at the vanguard of a demand for a new constitution.
“We must have a constitutional conference that enables the people of this country to have honest conversations around things that will make us make progress and make Nigeria work for all of us.
“If there is anything that will come out of this annual lecture, it must be that the media should be at the vanguard of a push for a constitutional conference, one that will enable the constituent parts of this country, a constituent assembly elected by the people, to sit, discuss the issues that make fiscal federalism work, and come out with proposals eligible for a constitution, which will then be put before the people to vote on in a referendum.
“This is what Kenya did after almost collapsing. Since then, you never hear them talking about break-ups, they talk about the need for good leaders.”
Ezekwesili emphasised that good governance is not a mystery and can be replicated in Nigeria if the political will exists.
“There is nothing mysterious about good governance. This thing has been done elsewhere and could be replicated here in the country.
“Unfortunately, today’s politics has been hijacked. What we now have is a criminal enterprise gang, and this is not only in Nigeria but across the continent.
“A criminal enterprise gang has taken hold of politics and excluded society. These people just sit at the table and slice governance in the direction that suits them. But that must not be allowed to continue,” she added.
The former minister also linked the quality of politics to the economic development of nations, warning that no real progress could be made in Africa without significant improvement in the quality of political leadership.
According to her, a true fiscal federal structure would not only promote regional autonomy and accountability but also satisfy demands for self-determination without jeopardising the unity of the country.
“Fiscal federalism will boost productivity, improve leadership capacity, and foster genuine collaboration among the regions,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, the immediate-past Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Amb Sarafadeen Ishola, stated that Nigeria’s current federalism, while adopted in principle, failed in practice.
“It neither delivers the autonomy expected by the federating units nor promotes the developmental competition required for national growth,” he said.
Amb Ishola, who chaired the occasion, emphasised that true federalism entailed not just devolution of power but also responsible governance, institutional clarity, fiscal equity, and citizen-driven accountability.
“Nigerians must not see restructuring as a sectional agenda but embrace it as a national rebirth strategy to address key challenges facing the country,” he added.
Earlier, the founder of Penpushing Media, an online platform, Mr Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, said the annual lecture was designed to elevate national discourse and inspire solutions to Nigeria’s most pressing problems.
He said Penpushing Media continued to grow while contributing significantly to improving the national narrative through credible journalism and impactful philanthropic activities.
He added that the platform had helped train over 80 Mass Communication students from various institutions and instituted an annual award for the best graduating students in the field.
The event also featured goodwill messages from former spokesman to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Femi Adesina; Chair of the Penpushing Editorial Board and former Lagos NUJ Chair, Funke Fadugba; and the Planning Committee Chair, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, among others.
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A senior police officer attached to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, CSP Ebong Thompson, rejected a bribe of N800,000 offered in an attempt to secure the release of a suspected armed robber and cover up the crime.
The spokesperson of the command, Timfon John, in a statement said the incident occurred on Wednesday, 30th July, 2025.
According to her, the prime suspect, 53-year-old David Samuel Isaac, was arrested after a Samsung smartphone, reportedly stolen at gunpoint, was traced to him.
Investigations revealed that Isaac is a repeat offender, having previously been arrested and charged to court for a similar offence last year. He reportedly returned to criminal activity shortly after being released.
The second suspect, Emmanuel Mendie Peter, was apprehended at the SWAT office while attempting to offer the N800,000 bribe to secure Isaac’s release.
“A police officer in charge of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, CSP Ebong Thompson, rejected N800,000 bribe offered to him on Wednesday, July 30, 2025,” the statement read.
“The money was intended to secure the release of an armed robbery suspect and also cover up the crime. The suspect, 53-year-old David Samuel Isaac, was arrested after a Samsung phone that was gotten at gun point was traced to him.
“Isaac has a history of similar offences as he was arrested and charged to court for similar crimes sometime last year but returned to criminal activities after his release.
“The other suspect, Emmanuel Mendie Peter was arrested after he brought the bribe to the SWAT office to secure the release of the main suspect. He was taken into custody after the offer was rejected.
“All officers concerned with this discreet investigation received a commendation letter from the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare.
“The CP, while addressing officers at the end of the month briefing, charged them to emulate the Distinguished officers.
“Members of the public are therefore warned to desist from compromising police investigation.”
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President Bola Tinubu has called on young Nigerians active in the digital media space to harness their platforms as instruments of national unity.
Speaking at the opening of the Progressives Digital Media Summit, themed ‘Unveiling the Critical Role of New Media in National Development,’ the President emphasised the importance of verifying information before amplifying it.
He urged the youth to serve as positive catalysts for societal development by building businesses that create employment and producing content that reflects unifying values.
“I urge you to continue using digital platforms to advance our nation’s progress. Build businesses that employ others. Create content that uplifts and unites. Use your influence to foster unity, not division.
Your generation has recognised this moment. You are using digital tools to innovate, educate, and demand accountability. But as your influence grows, so must our collective sense of purpose and responsibility” President Tinubu was quoted as saying in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga
The President commended the creativity and resilience of Nigeria’s youth, describing digital media as a driving force of economic and social transformation, rather than a mere accessory to life.
‘’From developing innovative platforms to building vibrant online communities, you are demonstrating the determination that is redefining what is possible for this country.
You are not waiting for the future; you are building it. Digital media is now a central driver of economic growth, civic engagement, and social change. It broadens representation for those previously unheard.”
The President, however, said his administration is committed to supporting digital innovation through the National Digital Innovation Fund and policies that promote a thriving startup ecosystem.
He also warned practitioners to remain vigilant against disinformation and cyber threats.
The summit convener, Segun Dada, said that in less than a decade, digital media had evolved from a tool of personal connection into a powerful engine for communication, innovation, and influence.
Dada, who is also the Special Assistant to the President on New Media, stressed the importance of harnessing this force for Nigeria’s good while managing inherent risks such as privacy concerns and threats to social cohesion.
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A grieving mother has opened up about the heartbreaking loss of her newborn baby due to complications worsened by her church’s strict doctrine against medical care.
In a now-viral narration, the lady explained that she was born into a church that forbids the use of medicine, medical intervention, or even routine hospital visits. Growing up under this belief, she never questioned it—until she got pregnant.
She shared that she refused antenatal care, took no multivitamins, and avoided the hospital completely because of her church’s teachings. But in her third trimester, she began to feel weak and sick.
Eventually, she defied her family and visited a doctor secretly, only to be diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication that required urgent hospitalization. When she informed her husband, he was furious she had gone against the church’s teachings. Her family and in-laws backed him, urging her to “have faith.”
Things took a turn for the worse when she fell unconscious one night. She was rushed to the hospital where doctors insisted on emergency surgery (C-section) due to her dangerously high blood pressure. Her husband initially refused medication but eventually allowed the procedure—though not without blame.
Tragically, her baby was born with multiple complications and had to be placed in NICU. After one month, the baby passed away.
Now, she says her husband and his family blame her for the loss, claiming it was due to her “lack of faith.” She, on the other hand, is questioning everything she was raised to believe and says she’s done with the church that cost her child’s life.
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