Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Emeritus Catholic Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, have expressed their backing for the parliamentary system of government in Nigeria.
The support comes in response to the advocacy of 60 members of the House of Representatives pushing for a return to the parliamentary system.
The monarch and the cleric made their positions known on Saturday on separate occasions in Abuja.
The Ooni of Ife conveyed his endorsement during a meeting with a delegation of lawmakers, led by the House Minority Leader, Hon Kingsley Chinda, and Hon Abdulsamad Dasuki in Abuja.
The lawmakers visited the Ooni of Ife to solicit his counsel and support for the three proposed bills, which seek to restructure elections at local, state, and federal levels.
The bills are: Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024 (HB.1115); Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024 (HB.1116) and; Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024 (HB.1117).
Emphasizing the need for healthy competition among the six geopolitical zones, Ooni Ogunwusi praised the proposed bills seeking to restructure elections at various levels.
He highlighted the parliamentary system as a means to unlock and harness the country’s abundant natural and human resources for effective development.
Ooni Ogunwusi expressed regret over the accidental adoption of the current presidential system, citing the short-lived parliamentary system after independence was disrupted by military incursions.
The monarch stated, “It’s a mistake of the past that people are saying it’s the northern people that are holding it, they want to. It’s a lie, if the people see the data of what is in the north now, I am very sure they would be the ones that will say let us do that thing now.
“Some people call it restructuring, some people call it true federalism, some people call it devolution of powers, all in all, it is the same thing.
“The white elephant, we don’t want to talk about it. It has got to the time unless we want another problem for us in this country. We have got to the wall, but you have made a name for yourselves,” Ooni added.
Cardinal Onaiyekan echoed his support for the parliamentary system while speaking at a policy dialogue organized by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought (ASSPT). He emphasised the urgency for a change in governance, suggesting that adopting a parliamentary system could reduce corruption and bring the government closer to the people.
Onaiyekan articulated, “It is time for a change. One thing is definitely sure, we cannot continue the way we are going.
“If we decide to retain the system we have now, it must change the way it is practiced.
“If the easiest way to change is to change the system, then let’s go ahead and change the system to parliamentary, with all its advantages and disadvantages,” he stressed.
Onaiyekan argued that the parliamentary system’s built-in mechanisms might deter the legal misuse of resources, addressing a critical issue of stealing within the government. He advocated for restructuring and decentralization of power to enhance effective governance at the local level.
The Cardinal added, “My understanding is that the parliamentary system is built in such a way that it will not be so easy to steal such humongous sums of money, and misuse of our natural resources legally.
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“The problem of this nation is that government people are stealing legally, they don’t even feel that they are stealing.
“According to my own understanding, if you take more than you deserve, you have stolen.’’
Onaiyekan equally cited the provision of pension for governors, saying it was not fair after being well paid to be legally entitled to houses, cars, and other things, while a retired police officer goes home with a meagre sum as pension.
Onaiyekan emphasised that the Nigerian Constitution has consistently failed to provide a clear framework for governance and religious affairs, resulting in confusion and inefficiency within the governance system.
Credit: Arise TV
