Urgent Call for Constitutional Reform in Nigeria

Obiag Obi Ezekwesili argues that Nigeria urgently needs to restructure its constitutional framework to address the escalating insecurity and governance challenges facing the country. She asserts that the current constitution, established in 1999, is fundamentally flawed and has led to a paralysis in governance.

Ezekwesili emphasizes that the existing legal framework cannot adequately resolve the crises stemming from a dysfunctional state structure. She advocates for a citizen-led constitutional amendment process that empowers Nigerians to create a new constitution through a referendum, similar to Kenya's 2010 referendum.

This new constitution should reflect the diverse ethnic makeup of Nigeria and include provisions for human rights protection, federal structure, and fiscal arrangements. Ezekwesili criticizes the current administration for piecemeal reforms that do not address the underlying power imbalances and calls for collective civic action to initiate these urgent amendments, warning that Nigeria cannot afford to ignore the need for a comprehensive restructuring.