Clark, Osoba back parliamentary system of govt

Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark; and ex-Ogun State Governor, Segun Osoba, have pledged their support for the proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution to transition from the presidential to parliamentary system of government in Nigeria.

In February, 60 lawmakers led by the Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, presented constitution alterations bills for first reading on the floor of the House during plenary, seeking the adoption of the parliamentary system of government across the three tiers of government.

Speaking during the meeting with Clark at his Abuja residence on Tuesday, Chinda, who observed that the lawmakers were bent on making governance count, noted that the presidential system does not avail the country of the cost-effective governance that the parliamentary system is known for.

He said, “The present style of presidential system that we are running in Nigeria is too cumbersome for our country, for our background, for our experience and cannot in any way be repaired as we stand today.

“A governor and president can run the state or the country for four years without talking to Nigerians. He has committed no offence against our laws. That is why you will hear the likes of Garba Shehu, (Ajuri) Ngelale, talking to Nigerians instead of the number one citizen of the country.

“During COVID-19, all of us were here, other countries were having briefings weekly by their Presidents but our President did not do it. We must have a system where public office holders including ourselves that you have elected will be more accountable to you, the people. A system where public officeholders will be on the ground, not administering by proxy. ”

He continued, “Our leader, we came with one agenda and as representatives elected into the House of Representatives of Nigeria to make laws for the good governance of this country, to make law for the peace and progress of this country – Nigeria.

“We will not shy away from the fact that our country is not where we all expected it to be today. We are not here to lay blame, our job is to look for solutions.”

In his address, Clark applauded the lawmakers’ initiative, noting that “the restructuring of Nigeria can no longer wait, otherwise there will be no Nigeria.”

Speaking after a closed-door meeting with the lawmakers at his Abuja residence, former Ogun State Governor, Osoba, on Tuesday, described the parliamentary system of government as “most economical.”

He added that “the centre is too loaded.”

He continued, “How can somebody in Abuja stay here and want to control the primary education in Kanuri, in Sokoto, in Bayelsa, in Ogun State? The culture is different.

“Take the issue of security for instance. Security is very local. When people kidnap, if you make security local, people who know their terrain will easily know where these terrorists are hiding. We have to devolve power.”