Why Ezekwesili Calls for a Fresh Start with Nigeria’s Constitution
Oby Ezekwesili has been a vociferous advocate for a fundamental rethink of Nigeria’s constitutional framework, arguing that the current 1999 Constitution is structurally defective and no longer fit for purpose.
position="center"
🧩 What Ezekwesili Has Been Saying
1. The 1999 Constitution Is Outdated
- During a public hearing in June 2021, she urged the Senate to recognise that the 1999 Constitution does not reflect modern Nigeria and called for a referendum to adopt an entirely new document.
- She emphasized that Nigeria’s rich diversity demands a constitution grounded in justice, equity, inclusion, and shared national identity.
2. Current Amendments Are a Charade
- In July 2025, Ezekwesili slammed the constitutional amendment efforts of the National Assembly as ineffective and wasteful: “The ongoing constitutional amendment cannot work… it is a charade and sheer waste of resources.”
She urged that the demand for a new constitution is a matter of life and death for the nation.
3. She Advocates a Citizens‑Led Process
- Ezekwesili calls for a single‑issue amendment that explicitly provides for:
- Election of a Constituent Assembly by the people.
- A referendum to approve its recommendations.
- She stresses that such a process must be transparent, inclusive, and free from manipulation by institutions lacking public trust, including INEC.
4. Structural Defects Undermining Nigeria
- Ezekwesili argues that the 1999 Constitution was crafted with heavy military influence, not through national consensus. It entrenched a top-down, centralized system alienating states and citizens.
- She highlights how the constitution’s rigid structure fuels regional dissatisfaction, weak governance, and institutional failure.
🧭 Why She Supports a “Fresh Start”
| Issue | Ezekwesili’s Diagnosis | Proposed Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Outmoded foundation | Constitution is militaristic, unitary, not citizen‑based | Replace via people-led constituent assembly |
| Incomplete reform | Amendment process yields superficial tweaks only | Initiate single‑issue amendment to allow constitutional convention |
| Structural instability | Poor federalism, political alienation, governance failure | Redraft to reflect equity, justice, unity |
| Broken institutions | INEC and others lack citizen trust | Engage civic participation in reform process |
🚀 In Summary: Why Ezekwesili Is Calling for a Fresh Constitution
- The 1999 Constitution lacks legitimacy because it was not created through a citizens’ process.
- Incremental amendments are insufficient to remedy deep-rooted structural flaws.
- Only a broad-based constitutional convention followed by a nationwide referendum can produce a document that genuinely belongs to Nigerians.
- Such reform, Ezekwesili argues, is essential for enhancing federalism, restoring trust, and enabling meaningful democratic governance.
About the Author
