-As Yakasai calls for adoption of French presidential system of govt
Ahead of the 2023 elections, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) cautined the political class especially the opposition to stop disrobing Nigeria in the committee of nations, saying the hypes that go with elections were diverting people from the issues at hand.
The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai posulated that going by the failure of the American system Goverment being operation in the country, the country should adopt French Presidential system, noting the latter is more appropriate to Nigeria’s peculiarities.
The duo spoke at the 3rd edition of TheNiche Annual lecture which was held on Thursday at Muson Centre, Lagos.
The teme for this year’s edition was titled, “2023 elections and future of Nigeria’s democracy.”
Other dignitaries at the event include, Prof Victor Chukwuma, Professor of Physics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Fellow of Astronomical Society of Nigeria, poet and public intellectual, Martins Oloja, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, columnist, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, former member House of Representatives, former DG NIMASA, politician, columnist and Mrs. Ene Obi, activist, Country Director ActionAid Nigeria, Convener Situation Room.
Fashola who spoke as a Guest Speaker positoned, “Unlike economists, politics expects that things will change especially if we are in opposition.”
While commenting on the noise that usually associated with every election year, Fashola said, “We’ve seen all those hypes every election, the real question is how can democracy we make lives better . Democracy is really concerned about popular participation in choosing a leader or set of leaders.”
The former Lagos State Governor reiterated that democracy is a man made abd no man made idea is timeless. Let’s have a debate about what government is not doing right but what are those alternatives? Otherwise the merry goes round.
Citing example of where the debate should focus, the minister pointed out that “The two major parties have tried to remove subsidy on petrol without special unrest, that is the big elephant in he room.”
He added the kind of people elected at the federal, State and local governments would determine the kind of leaders that would emerge.
He also stated with the amended made to the constitution, the State Governornment now has the power to come up with their own energy outside the national grid, saying “there is no one to blame, use it.
“Our democracy has really declined in tax revenue, what makes up even more acceptable. Pay your tax and ask me what I am doing with it. It makes our democracy works better.
“We can elections without exaggerating your problem. Credible service and we’ll thought out solutions. We can win elections without disrobing our country before the global community, not by widening our fault lines.”
Yakasai who is the founding member of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said, “The civilian Governornments of 1979 and 1999 till date operated presidential system Goverment but it is very expensive. I feel it is needed to say Nigeria is on the crossroads. There is overwhelming consensus that our democratic governance has only succeeded in political enyerprenures which is not in the interest of of over 200 million people. It is shameful that Nigeria is endowed but a poor country.
“The dismal performance of the successive Goverments in harnessing abandoned resources on how to resolve the huge youth restiveness kidnapping, political thuggery, vandalization of national assets. Unfortunately, there is no clear sign to reverse this negative treand. No wonder the country is clamouring for positive change of restructuring after 2023.”
The elderstatesman submitted that the regional system of government worked better. Although reverting to regionalism may not be helpful given by the current realities.
He advised that people oriented change to devolve powers and responsibilities to the sub-nationals. I support regional competitiveness to stimulate economic growth in their areas of comparative advantage.
“In my opinion, the decision to drop the parliamentary system of government was not driven by proper rationale. American system of presidential system in our own peculiar situation. I have been advocating for French presidential system of goverment. It is far cheaper to operate and more suitable to our own realities. Let’s do away with the current system which is prones to waste.”
The convener of he lecture, the Managing Director, TheNiche, Ikechukwu Amaechi said the idea behind the lecture was that Nigerians should know that elections have consequences.
He said, “the lecture is a modest contribution to modern democracy.”
