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ABUJA, NIGERIA — A former delegate to the 2014 National Conference and Chairperson of the Southeast Patriots Advocacy Committee, Chief Mrs. Ifeyinwa Arafat Ezenwa, has called for sweeping constitutional restructuring and a return to genuine federalism, arguing that Nigeria’s persistent political, economic and security challenges require structural solutions rather than temporary political arrangements.
Ezenwa, who served as a member of the Energy Committee at the 2014 National Conference and is also known as Ijele Nwanyi Igbo Nile, made the call while presenting five advocacy documents at the ongoing Citizens’ Assembly on Restructuring of Nigeria to Federated Regions in Abuja.
The Citizens’ Assembly, organised under the banner of the Citizens Rebirth and Awareness Initiative (C-RAIN), is being held from August 17 to 21, 2026, in Abuja, with the theme and central proposition centred on “Strong Regions, Stronger Nigeria: Building a Nation by Consent.”
The initiative is seeking to bring together representatives and stakeholders from across Nigeria to deliberate on a proposed restructuring of the country into federated regions, negotiate and adopt Articles of Federation, and lay what its organisers describe as the foundation for a union of 15 autonomous regions.
In her address to delegates, Ezenwa said the five documents she presented should not be viewed merely as policy papers but as a broader call for a constitutional order capable of accommodating Nigeria’s diversity while giving its constituent regions greater room to develop.
Standing before the gathering of leaders, delegates and patriots, she declared: “We are not asking for favour. We are asking for a fair constitution.”
According to her, the demand was neither targeted at any Nigerian region nor intended to undermine the unity of the country.
“We are not here to fight Nigeria. We are here because we believe Nigeria can be better,” she said.
Contents
‘Structural Problems Require Structural Solutions’
Ezenwa argued that Nigeria had for decades attempted to resolve deep-rooted structural challenges through political appointments, temporary arrangements and promises, without adequately addressing the constitutional framework responsible for the problems.
“For too long, we have tried to solve structural problems with political appointments, temporary arrangements and promises. But when the problem is structural, the solution must also be structural,” she said.
She consequently called for constitutional restructuring and genuine federalism under which the Federal Government would concentrate on responsibilities requiring national coordination, while regions and states would be given sufficient authority to manage matters that could be handled more effectively closer to the people.
Her position closely aligns with the central theme of the Citizens’ Assembly, which advocates a federation based on stronger constituent regions, consent, cooperation and shared prosperity.
Ezenwa stressed that devolution of responsibility must be accompanied by the resources required to discharge those responsibilities effectively.
“Power must come with responsibility, and responsibility must come with resources,” she said.
“A region cannot be told to develop while the resources and authority necessary for development remain concentrated elsewhere.”
She therefore advocated a fair fiscal arrangement that would take account of contribution, need, developmental challenges and responsible resource management.
Southeast Seeks Conditions For Home-Grown Development
For the Southeast, Ezenwa said constitutional restructuring should create conditions that would enable the region’s people to invest, manufacture, farm, innovate, trade and build industries within their homeland.
“Our people should not have to leave their homeland before they can realise their potential,” she said.
She, however, rejected the suggestion that a stronger Southeast must come at the expense of other regions.
“Our prosperity does not require the poverty of another region,” she declared.
“We are not asking for a Nigeria where one region wins and another loses. We are asking for a Nigeria where every region can become strong.”
According to her, the objective should be to create a federation in which the development of one constituent part strengthens rather than weakens the entire country.
“Because strong regions can produce a stronger Nigeria,” she said.
The position also echoes the broader message of the Citizens’ Assembly, whose campaign materials describe the proposed restructuring as an effort to build “a better and stronger Nigeria” through dialogue, consent, unity and prosperity.
Ezenwa Backs State Or Regional Policing
Security was another major component of Ezenwa’s address, with the Southeast Patriots chairperson advocating a constitutional approach to bringing policing closer to communities.
She said she supported effective state or regional policing, but insisted that such arrangements must operate under professional standards, judicial oversight, legislative accountability and respect for fundamental rights.
“The issue of policing should be approached constitutionally and responsibly,” she said.
She warned against the possibility of security institutions being deployed for partisan purposes, stressing that their primary responsibility should be the protection of citizens.
“Security institutions must protect the people, not become instruments of political intimidation,” Ezenwa declared.
Her call formed part of her wider argument that a restructured federation should give communities greater capacity to respond to their own developmental and security needs while maintaining safeguards against abuse of power.
Call For Transparent State Creation Process
Ezenwa also urged Nigeria to confront what she described as structural imbalances in political representation.
She argued that where genuine imbalances exist, constitutional mechanisms should be available to address them transparently and objectively.
This, she said, should include a fair process for considering the creation of additional states where constitutional requirements are met.
“No region should have to depend on personal relationships with political leaders to obtain what should be determined by constitutional principles,” she said.
Her argument was that questions concerning the political and administrative configuration of the federation should be addressed through established constitutional processes rather than political patronage.
Women Must Move From Political Spectators To Decision-Makers
The former national conference delegate devoted a significant part of her speech to women’s political participation, insisting that women must occupy a more meaningful position in Nigeria’s constitutional and political affairs.
She argued that women could no longer be treated primarily as voters and political mobilisation instruments while remaining underrepresented in the institutions where major national decisions were made.
“Women cannot continue to be treated as spectators in the political process while making up a substantial part of the electorate and carrying enormous responsibilities in our homes, communities, businesses and institutions,” she said.
Ezenwa called for women’s participation in constitutional negotiations, legislatures, political parties, regional governance and national decision-making.
According to her, a new constitutional order must recognise women as active stakeholders in determining the political future of the country.
‘Young Nigerians Must Stop Being Viewed As Electoral Machinery’
She also challenged political leaders to rethink the role assigned to young Nigerians.
“Our young people must also stop being viewed merely as electoral machinery,” Ezenwa said.
Rather than mobilising young people principally during election periods, she argued that the country must provide them with education, skills, employment, technology and entrepreneurship opportunities.
She further demanded a genuine place for young Nigerians in determining the future of the country they would inherit.
For her, constitutional restructuring would be incomplete if it merely redistributed political powers without creating opportunities for the younger generation to participate in governance and economic development.
Ezenwa Challenges Nigerians To Examine Their Own Conduct
While making a strong case for constitutional reform, Ezenwa also turned the spotlight on Nigerians themselves, warning that demands for a better political system must be accompanied by personal and collective responsibility.
“We must also examine ourselves,” she told the delegates.
“We cannot demand accountability from Nigeria and excuse corruption among ourselves.
“We cannot demand unity while rewarding division.
“We cannot demand development while destroying our own institutions.”
She also cautioned against blind political loyalty.
“And we cannot support a leader simply because that leader belongs to our political camp,” she said.
According to her, the Nigeria being demanded by advocates of restructuring must be built on responsibility as well as rights.
The argument placed accountability, ethical leadership and institutional integrity alongside constitutional reform as necessary components of a stronger federation.
‘We Can Be Proudly Igbo And Proudly Nigerian’
Ezenwa also addressed the question of ethnic identity and national belonging, insisting that the promotion of Igbo identity should not be interpreted as opposition to Nigeria.
“Our Igbo identity is not a rejection of Nigeria,” she said.
“We can be proudly Igbo and proudly Nigerian.”
She called for the protection and promotion of Igbo language, culture, history, traditional institutions and identity while encouraging full participation by the Igbo people in the development of Nigeria.
According to her, regional identity and national citizenship could coexist within a properly structured federation.
She further highlighted the role of the Southeast diaspora, saying Nigerians of Southeast origin living outside the region possess knowledge, capital, technology, professional expertise and international connections that could contribute significantly to regional development.
She advocated organising these resources towards productive economic development rather than political manipulation.
‘How Many More Conferences Must Nigerians Attend?’
Drawing directly from her experience at the 2014 National Conference, Ezenwa questioned why many of the structural issues identified more than a decade ago remain unresolved.
“I speak about the 2014 National Conference from personal experience,” she said.
“I was privileged to serve as a Delegate to that Conference and as a member of the Energy Committee.”
According to her, the conference provided an opportunity for Nigerians from different backgrounds to sit together, identify national problems and discuss solutions.
“We sat down as Nigerians.
“We identified many of the problems confronting our country.
“We discussed solutions.
“Years later, many of those structural questions remain before us.”
She subsequently posed a series of questions that captured the frustration underlying her advocacy.
“How many more conferences must Nigerians attend before recommendations become action?” she asked.
“How many more generations must inherit the same constitutional problems?”
“How long will we continue treating symptoms while refusing to address the structure that produces them?”
For Ezenwa, the failure to resolve these questions underscores the need for a renewed national conversation focused not merely on political personalities but on the constitutional structure of the federation.
Five Documents, One Message
Ezenwa said the five documents presented at the gathering were intended to provide a structured basis for advancing the case for constitutional reform.
She rejected any interpretation of the documents as instruments of hostility or revenge.
“They are not documents of hatred.
“They are not documents of revenge.
“They are not documents against any Nigerian,” she said.
Instead, she described them as documents calling for justice, equality, dignity, responsibility and a better constitutional arrangement.
She said the central demands could be summarised in a series of principles: giving every region room to breathe and develop; guaranteeing equal dignity for citizens; strengthening women’s political voice; providing young people with opportunities; improving community security; bringing government closer to the people; and creating a constitution capable of accommodating Nigeria’s diversity.
C-RAIN Assembly Seeks Federated Regional Structure
The Citizens’ Assembly where Ezenwa delivered the address is being convened by the Citizens Rebirth and Awareness Initiative (C-RAIN).
The initiative’s programme identifies its principal objectives as bringing together representatives and stakeholders from across Nigeria; negotiating, adopting and signing proposed Articles of Federation; laying the foundation for a union of 15 autonomous regions; and building a Nigeria based on consent, cooperation and shared prosperity.
The five-day assembly is scheduled for August 17 to 21, 2026, in Abuja, with the Nicon Luxury Hotel identified as the venue.
The event’s organising materials identify Owolabi Oladejo as the convener and Ambassador Ali Ocheni as General Secretary. They also list regional representatives including Hon. Bassey Nyong Ekefre, Col. CBD Waziri (Rtd.), Mohammed Lawal Mohammed, Sir Henry M. Mba and D.I.Y Nweze.
The assembly’s stated objective is encapsulated in its call for Nigeria to be rebuilt through dialogue, consent, unity and shared prosperity, with stronger regions forming the basis for what its organisers describe as a stronger Nigeria.
‘We Do Not Seek Domination; We Seek Equality’
Ezenwa insisted that the restructuring agenda should not be interpreted as a demand for domination by any region or an attempt to separate the Southeast from Nigeria.
“We do not want to destroy Nigeria. We want to help rebuild it,” she said.
“We do not seek domination.
“We seek equality.
“We do not seek privilege.
“We seek fairness.”
She further declared that the objective was not separation from other Nigerians but the creation of a federation in which every constituent part could develop, prosper and contribute its strength to the national whole.
“We do not seek separation from our fellow Nigerians,” she said.
“We seek a federation where every constituent part can prosper and contribute its strength to the whole.”
‘Change The Structure, Not Just The Symptoms’
Ezenwa ultimately challenged Nigerians to move beyond repeated complaints about the consequences of the country’s structural problems and confront the constitutional arrangements that, in her view, produce them.
“Let us therefore move from complaining about the consequences of a faulty structure to courageously changing the structure itself,” she urged.
She said the Nigeria of the future should not be founded on fear, domination or political convenience, but on justice, consent, equity, responsibility and mutual respect.
“The Nigeria of tomorrow must not be built on fear, domination or political convenience,” she declared.
“It must be built on justice, consent, equity, responsibility and mutual respect.”
As the Citizens’ Assembly continues its deliberations in Abuja, the intervention by the Southeast Patriots Advocacy Committee has added a strong regional voice to the wider conversation over Nigeria’s constitutional future.
For Ezenwa, however, the fundamental issue transcends regional interest.
Her closing message returned to the principle with which she began her presentation:
“We are not asking for favour. We are asking for a fair constitution.”
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