ABEOKUTA– Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has stated that what the nation needs is a new constitution that will reflect the nation’s diversity, not amendments as currently being undertaken.
Ezekwesili stated this while delivering a keynote lecture at the 7th annual anniversary of Penpushing Media in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
Speaking on the theme, “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism: Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism”, Ezekwesili noted that for Nigeria to attain its fullest potential, a people’s constitution that will help address all the imbalances and the inequalities that defined the current constitution is needed.
She however knocked the National Assembly over its efforts on the ongoing constitutional amendment, describing it as a charade and a conduit pipe to waste public funds, saying that such efforts will do little or nothing to help address the need to restructure the country along the practice of true federalism.
“The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot work, it cannot address our problem, it is a charade and sheer waste of resources. The demand for a new constitution is a matter of life and death
“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 same with nation building. So this expensive charade that the National Assembly is embarking on and spending money on won’t take us anywhere.
“The media should take the front seat and be at the vanguard of a demand for new constitution. We must have a constitutional conference that enables the people of this country to have honest conversation 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 part of this country, a constituent assembly elected by the people, they go, they sit, they have the discussion on the basis of the issues that makes fiscal federal system of government to work and come out with issues that are eligible for constitution which is put before the people to vote in form of referendum.
“This is what Kenya did after almost collapsing, and since then, you never hear them talking about break-up, they will talk about the need for good leaders”
The immediate past Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji Isola urged Nigerians to embrace restructuring, not as a sectional agenda but as a national rebirth strategy to address some of the challenges hindering effective development of the country.
He added that the country’s current federalism is adopted in principle but suffers in practice, which according to him has hindered the autonomy expected by the federating units required for national growth.
“True federalism is not only about devolution of power but about responsible governance, institutional clarity, fiscal equity, and citizen-driven accountability”, he said
Meanwhile, the founder, Penpushing Media, Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji said that the essence of the annual lecture is aimed at elevating conversation around issues that could further enhance the greatness of the country.
Panelists includes, former director, National Broadcasting Commission, Eddy Aina, Ogun state commissioner for women affairs and social development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, Director, Institute of continuing education, Mass Communication department, University of Lagos, Prof. Abgail, Ogwezzy-Ndisika and Special Adviser to Oyo state governor, CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd).
Other dignitaries present at the event includes, former Presidential Spokesman to the Late Mohammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, President, Guild Of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Maureen Chigbo, and the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof. Saka Matemilola, among others.
