- NASS seeks full implementation of local government autonomy by 2027
- Professor Abdullahi also argued that choice of leadership has been the bane of Nigeria’s problem, adding that the Parliamentary system worked for Nigeria, despite the fact that the country was not rich.
A member of the Northern Elders Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, has supported the ongoing legislative campaign by some lawmakers to put Nigeria back under the Parliamentary System of Government.
Abdullahi, Former vice-chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaira made these remarks on Friday in Abuja while meeting with members of the House of Representatives and praising the bill’s sponsors.
He said that the military used teleguidance to persuade the Constituent Assembly of 1976–1977 to embrace the US Presidential System of Government for Nigeria.
“If you are talking of failure of the system, it’s totally unfair to say that parliamentary system failed in Nigeria. It didn’t, the problem was that it has not been given sufficient time.” he said.
“So, my personal position is that, I’m 100 per cent against the presidential system of government, it’s an unsuitable system not only for Nigeria, but any country that is in this reckless, greedy western world.
“Because the democracy the western world is trying to force down the throat of every nation in the world is to serve their interest.
“And check honestly, academically, materially and so on, see what happened since 1960 till date. For me, if I’m going to react to your visit, I’ll react in two ways,” he said.
Abdullahi added: “The first level is my own personal conviction. I’m a product of the First Republic and I cherished being that product, as a teacher who marks exams from A1 to failure.”
Speaking, Rep. Abdulsamad Dasuki (APC- Sokoto) said that the visit was to seek the support of the elder statesman in the move to return Nigeria to Parliamentary System.
“Our target is that we can learn from implementing in the bills in phases. The first phase is with INEC, even if it’s not from these particular sponsors.
“We are here to learn, what we are trying to do for Nigeria is to build Nigeria for Nigerians looking at our peculiarities,” he said.
Also speaking, Rep. Wale Raji (APC-Lagos) said that the cost of governance under the Presidential System was much higher than that of Parliamentary System.
He said that Presidential System of government was quite expensive for the country, as it had hindered economic development.