Western democracy not working for Nigeria – Al-Mustapha

The late Gen. Sani Abacha’s Chief Security Officer, Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, says Western democracy is not working for Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria must develop a system of government that suits its purpose rather than copy what is being practised in America.

Describing himself as a democrat now, Al-Mustapha also condemned those calling for a coup in the country, saying the military government was no longer fashionable.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Action Alliance spoke with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday against the backdrop of the nationwide hunger protest, which turned violent in the North, with some rioters waving the Russian flag and demanding that President Bola Tinubu step down.

Al-Mustapha said, “In a debate, in our presentation in the past, I said I am against the presidential system in Nigeria and the examples I gave is the fact that two close countries, the closest to us, the United Kingdom and the United States, one is operating the parliamentary system, the other is operating the presidential system, all has to do with their historical backgrounds, with conveniences of the people and Nigeria is simply a copycat. We copied the parliamentary system, we later changed to the presidential system. Both systems are strange to our culture, to our history, to our background, to our understanding as a people. How can you bring the same system and adopt it as yours? It would not work, it would be repulsive.”

He said though some politicians were not comfortable with his views, he remained convinced about them.

“Some politicians came to me and said, ‘You need not say that in the open, allow us to continue to operate the way we are’, but I cannot be a part of cheating. What did I say? I said the United States is a country where immigrants who became citizens have laws protecting them and the question I asked was, in Nigeria, who is an immigrant and who is an indigene? How can you have more laws and a system of governance that is protective of immigrants? Who is an immigrant in Nigeria? We are all citizens. So, we need to chart our own course, we have to have  the domestic type of democracy that will suit us and suit our future. That is what I am calling for but the issue of military is a no” Al-Mustapha said.

Condemning the clamour for a military takeover of government, the retired military officer said it was no longer fashionable.

He said, “I am, by definition today, a politician. I am looking at this country today from a democratic sense. We have invested in it and we are investing in it. Our research is all towards the investment of democratic excellence in Nigeria.

“Military subordination to democracy is a clear direction as the world is today. My advice to them (coup mongers) is that military professionalism is what they should canvas for. Military subordination to democracy is what they should invest in and put all their energies there for.”

Al-Mustapha said the military should concentrate on securing the nation’s sovereignty, particularly as it had become overstretched as a result of insurgency and banditry.

  He said, “Remember, prior to the protest, Nigeria was totally enveloped, the military is overstretched, trying to provide solutions or to contend Boko Haram, contend with banditry, contend other numerous abuses, kidnapping and the rest of it and all the other social vices that have bedeviled Nigeria.

“The problems are more than the police and today, the military is overstretched and these things have continued to linger.

“If you care to investigate to see the scale of crime in Nigeria, you would realise that there is a buildup rather than a decline and that is most disturbing.

 “That is to say the capacity in our military has actually been overstretched. So what is expected of Nigeria and Nigerians is to first help the military to either increase in strength and rather than give them a task that is scientifically proven in numerous other countries that have contended insecurity.”