Buhari Can’t Succeed With Unworkable System Of Govt In Nigeria, Says Akande
A former interim Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s inability to stop the killings in Benue and other parts of the country is due to the system of government being operated in the country.
Akande who also urged discerning minds in the country to sympathise with Buhari for working under an unworkable presidential system of government said all good intentions of President Mohammadu Buhari, would remain, “mere dreams” as long as the system is retained.
Speaking with newsmen in Ila-Orangun as part of activities marking his 79th birthday held that multi-party parliamentary democracy which would address myriads of challenges facing the country is the best for a country like Nigeria.
Asked the kind of advice he has given to President Buhari to contain the killings by the Fulani herdsmen, Akande who admitted that Buhari is his good friend, blamed the lapses on the system of government practiced in the country.
He recalled his experience as governor of Osun state, when he had to make over 100 decisions that would affect several human lives per day, and yet, the control of key machineries of government to back up his decisions were never within his reach.
Akande said as a member of Constituent Assembly that drew the 1979 Constitution, he voted for parliamentary system of government, but said many members of the assembly voted in support of presidential system.
“In Nigeria’s Presidential System of government, lawmakers are elected on party platforms, but as soon as they get to the parliament, the party on which platform they get the opportunity, becomes less important.
“All that is important at that level is the collective interest of the members of that parliament. Party’s programmes and manifestoes are no longer important. That has been the major problem facing the country. Let’s dump this corrupt presidential system and go for the more transparent parliamentary system.
“As a governor in 1999, my administration worked with a parliament that has 26 members all voted in on the platform of my party, despite this, the assembly decided not to support the programmes of the party that gave them opportunity.
“They served me impeachment notice. On the day the motion was moved, 24 members all from my party voted in support of my removal, one voted against it and the Speaker did not vote.
“I was given 21 days. On the day they sat again on the matter, 13 said no to my impeachment and 12 said I should be removed. The Speaker did not vote. Same party that produced the lawmakers, also produced me as governor. I believe, even if an angel is sent to administer this kind of unworkable system, he will fail”, Akande said.
