Nigerians should consider the parliamentary system as an alternative route to its redemption, a former judge of the International Court of Justice, Bola Ajibola, has declared.


Speaking at the launch of a book titled ‘Leadership Failure and Nigeria's Fading Hope," authored by Femi Okunrounmu, a former senator, Mr. Ajibola suggested that the parliamentary system and its attributes more probably suit the country's needs as a nation.

"We are not as deep into the wilderness as not to be able to retrace our steps," he said.

He described the corruption sleaze and the brawls in the National Assembly as some of the practices of politicians, which are "terribly despairing and despicable."

"It is difficult to imagine that this is the nation that I served conscientiously and meritoriously for six years, without taking any salary or remuneration whatsoever. On the contrary, I also engaged the services of three legal practitioners to work for government being paid for by me," he said.

Mr. Ajibola said that the hope of securing the dividends of democracy from the present crop of leaders was a gradually evaporating dream. He, however, described as not surprising the fact that "thirty percent of the national budget is expended on the political class, which is less than one percent of the total population."

Mr. Okunrounmu accused federal lawmakers of only uniting when they have loot to share.

"The truth is that they are all birds of the same flock, united in the ignoble cause of carting away the people's money, but quarrelling only when one group finds itself at a disadvantage over purely personal issues unrelated to performing their roles as legislators," he said.

"It is an irony that all our rulers are automatically given the highest national award, the GCFR, just for being rulers, regardless of performance. Or is the GCFR to be understood to mean the Grand Corruptor of the Federal Republic?"

Poor judgement

He also described the plan to celebrate the 50 years of Nigeria's independence as a poor judgement to celebrate failure, and that to do so with a whopping N10 billion is criminal.

The book launch was well attended by most Afenifere leaders, Femi Falana, Gani Fawehinmi's wife and his first son, who purchased ten copies of the book for the late lawyer's library.

The former presidential aspirant in the All Peoples's Party, Harry Akande, who was the chief launcher at the event, said the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest for the presidency is not the problem, but the fact of how fair it is going to be when the umpire is also a part of the game.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5585325-147/ajibola_advocates_return_to_parliamentary_system.csp

Could be looked at if it means more accountability of our leadership to the citizenry but we've got to sort out the electoral system! We need free and fair elections first!

i support it wholeheartedly.parliamentary system is the best for us

He should go and sit down.

I stopped taking this man seriously when he publicly said negotiating Bakassi away to Camerounians without achieving anything in return even though the locals of that land want to remain Nigerians is his life time achievement.

He has nothing to offer Nigeria. He is a sellout.

All you wasted generations, you offered us nothing but endless suffering therfore, have no right to advocate any way forward for us.By the grace of God we will again redeeme the image of this country one day.

Yes, the parliamentary system of government is cheaper and there is collective responsibility. But what Nigeria needs is a very fast return to true federalism.

Parliamentary system for what? Nonsense!

Does he think it's easy to be conducting election every now and then with our crap INEC whenever the ruling coalition loses its majority?
That will divide Nigeria the more.

CORRUPT MAN!!!!!! What did he do when he had the opportunity. These archaic so called leaders disgusts me. When they had opportunity to change things, they wont do it. But immediately they leave office, they start offering unnecessary advice to remain relevant

CORRUPT MAN!!!!!! What did he do when he had the opportunity. These archaic so called leaders disgusts me. When they had opportunity to change things, they wont do it. But immediately they leave office, they start offering unnecessary advice to remain relevant

I support it as long as they merge all the states back into 5 regions.

Is it the system of goverment that is to blame for Nigeria's woes or the corrupt minded politicians who call themselves leaders of Nigeria?

jamace:

Is it the system of goverment that is to blame for Nigeria's woes or the corrupt minded politicians who call themselves leaders of Nigeria?

I second you, jare

how will a parliamentary system work in a one party state?? Our present houses (rep and senate) will give you a glimpse into how the parliamentary system is going to be like.
Moreover, parliamentary system will never work in a state like Nigeria which is strongly religio-ethno-biased. pple who participated in the parliamentary system know why they prefer presidential system of govt in 1979. The problem with our own presidential system is how we practise it , do a thorough overhaul of what we have now and ,

mikeansy:

He should go and sit down.

I stopped taking this man seriously when he publicly said negotiating Bakassi away to Camerounians without achieving anything in return even though the locals of that land want to remain Nigerians is his life time achievement.

He has nothing to offer Nigeria. He is a sellout.

You are 100% correct mike, these buffoons are nothing more than a bunch of political p/ro/sti/tu/tes with nothing to offer the country, as long as they can continue to milk the country dry they are happy.  They have sold out our generation by forcing many people like myself out of the country because of their visionless and directionless plans for nigeria.  Actually their plans are not directionless their plans for nigeria are for the complete political and  economic subjugation of nigeria to western financial institutions which is currently an ongoing process.

To now come talking about a parlimentary system as being the best way forward should give you a glimpse into how devoid this man is of anything constructive or progressive for nigeria.  This is why nigeria continues to lurch from one crisis to another, what do you expect when we  have useless parasites like this in the corridors of power?

its not easy,

imagine the british system of  government,


where president is held to ransom by the hause,

where before he makes a move, he spends hrs defending it before the hause

our problem isn't in d form of govt which we practice rather in d crop of politicians who constitute d system.d selfishness,greed and ignorance of our leaders is really d problem,never d form of govt.

wales:


"thirty percent of the national budget is expended on the political class, which is less than one percent of the total population."

This is very appalling.

I think he has a point. The presidential system is just the expensive the way it is configured right now in Nigeria. Too many elected officials taking very high renumeration. The number of elected positions or their salaries should be drastically reduced or a totally different system like he's suggesting will be necessary to move the country forward.

It makes sense to operate the Parliamentary system. Elections and campaigns will be cheaper. Government will be cheaper. Elected members of the National Assembly will finally have a job to do. Can you imagine a downside to it? Oh yes! Career politicians will no longer have enough positions to fill, making the few available positions a 'do or die' affair. Hopw will they eat?