Oby Ezekwesili demands new constitution to fix Nigeria’s laws

Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, the founder of Human Capital Africa, is calling for a new constitution in Nigeria. She believes a fresh constitution is the only way to fix the country’s inequalities and imbalances. During a lecture at the 7th Penpushing Media anniversary in Abeokuta, she urged the media to lead the charge for this change.

Ezekwesili emphasized that a new constitution is a “matter of life and death” for Nigeria. She argued that the current document is fundamentally flawed and criticized the ongoing constitutional amendments by the National Assembly, calling them a “charade” and a waste of public funds. She said this process is like trying to fix a building with a weak foundation by making small adjustments it simply won’t work.

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She suggested that a constitutional conference is needed, similar to what Kenya did to resolve its own conflicts. This conference would be made up of representatives elected by the people to have an “honest conversation” about a new constitution. The final document would then be put to a national referendum for citizens to vote on.

According to Ezekwesili, a new constitution that focuses on fairness, justice, and devolving power would solve major national problems, including calls for secession, insecurity, unemployment, and poor governance. She also expressed concern that politics in Nigeria and across Africa has been “hijacked” by a “criminal enterprise gang” that prioritizes its own interests over the public’s.