The Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said the presidential system of government being practised in the country cannot solve the numerous challenges the nation is facing.
The governor said this in Osogbo on Tuesday while the Majority Leader, House of Representatives , Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, also toed the same line.
The duo spoke during a special sitting of the Osun State House of Assembly to honour Aregbesola with a life membership of the House. The honour was one of the activities to mark the 60th birthday of the governor.
The governor said the present system was not only cumbersome, but was not suitable for Nigeria.
Aregbesola said, “It is unsuitable for our own clime. Parliamentary system of government is the best system of government over and above the current expensive and authoritarian presidential system.
“Nothing can be more incongruous than operating a presidential system in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country like Nigeria.
“Anything short of true federalism is an aberration, but parliamentary system is the best way we can rule our country without hassles.
“While the current presidential system tends towards authoritarianism, parliamentary system gives everybody voice and make governance easier.”
Gbajabiamila said in the lecture he delivered that nobody could say precisely the type of system being practised in Nigeria.
He said power was concentrated at the centre in a presidential system of government but said this could not be possible in a multi-ethnic society like Nigeria where issues of marginalisation, resource control and other issues were prevalent.
Gbajabiamila, said there were too many responsibilities at the federal level, saying, this was the major reason why dividends of democracy hardly got to the grassroots.
The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Najeem Salaam, while presenting the membership certificate to the governor, said the honour was conferred on Aregbesola based on his developmental strides in the state.
(Punch)
