Oby Ezekwesili Calls for National Governance Reform Over 2027 Elections

Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili called for a fundamental national conversation to address systemic governance failures in Nigeria. Speaking on AriseTV PrimeTime on Monday, Ezekwesili argued that focusing exclusively on the 2027 presidential election ignores the structural problems and the absence of a social contract that have deteriorated the country's political and economic conditions.

Ezekwesili criticized the Nigerian political class as "predators of patriotism," alleging that officeholders claim to love the country only while in power and frequently label critics of poor governance as enemies of the state. She claimed that repeated electoral cycles have led to a collapse of human dignity and a devaluation of human life. She warned that the current state of the country is not an inevitable destiny but a result of design.

To remedy these failures, Ezekwesili advocated for the establishment of shared national values and a common vision to serve as the basis for a new constitutional arrangement. She challenged citizens to start "voting for themselves" and to prioritize long-term national interests over short-term economic incentives. While she reaffirmed her support for Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate Peter Obi based on his character and competence, she maintained that the most urgent priority is addressing the hollowing out of the Nigerian state.