Presidential System Threat To Future Democracy Says The Patriots

…Asks Tinubu to give Nigeria New Constitution

By Tunde Opalana

Eminent national leaders of thoughts under the aegis of The Patriot has condemned the presidential system of government as currently being run in Nigeria saying that it portends a great threat to the nation’s democracy.

The summit which was organized in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG) noted that a bicameral system for the federal legislature was unsustainable and expensive, adding that a more cost-effective system should be implemented.

The Patriot demanded from President Bola Tinubu an urgent process to evolve a people oriented constitution that will address challenging issues hindering true federalism in the country.

The summit at a two day summit in Abuja gathered representatives of various ethnic nationalities to discuss the state of the nation and the current constitution.

READ ALSO: Disagreement greets move to establish Malaria Eradication Agency

The delegates recommended a federal system of government, where the federating units.

In a communique issued on Friday and signed by the convener, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON, the Summit agreed that “the current presidential system of government is too expensive, prone to abuse; constitutes a hindrance to people’s welfare and a major threat to the future of democracy in Nigeria.”

To fast track the process of evolving a new constitution, the Summit recommend to the Tinubu administration, convening of a constituent assembly which should examine the most appropriate system of government for Nigeria.

Topmost in the resolutions made at the summit include; Urgent need for new a Constitutional order in which the Summit agreed that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is deeply flawed and unrepresentative in that it was not made by the people and is inadequate for addressing the country’s pluralism and the various challenges confronting Nigeria as a nation.

“Therefore, delegates agreed that there is the need for a new people-driven, inclusive, democratic Constitution anchored on true federalism. For stability and maximal development, the Constitution must address Nigeria’s plurality and diversity.”

The group demanded for Constituent Assembly stressing that “in order to actualise the above and other reforms agreed to at this Summit, the delegates agreed that the President be requested to introduce an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise elections to a national Constituent Assembly. This Assembly shall be made up of delegates elected on non-partisan basis as well as representatives of special interest groups”

It suggested that the Constituent Assembly “shall be responsible for actualizing a peoples democratic Constitution that will be subjected to a referendum of the Nigerian people before it is assented to by the President to midwife a peoples’ democratic Constitution that will be subjected to a referendum of the Nigerian people before it is assented to by the President.”

The Patriots further demanded a return to genuine federalism through an immediate constitutional framework where the federating units will enjoy their autonomy as obtained in the First Republic and other genuine democracies of the World.

“The Summit agreed that the current presidential system of government is too expensive, prone to abuse; constitutes a hindrance to people’s welfare and a major threat to the future of democracy in Nigeria.

“Flowing from the above resolutions, the Summit resolved that the present six geopolitical zones should be restructured in such a way as to ensure a truly federal system of government.

“The current political reality is that too much power is concentrated at the centre. Quite enormous powers are currently concentrated in the presidency. The reduction of the enormity will discourage autocratic tendencies and encourage inter-institutional checks and balances. The patriot therefore recommends the devolution of powers from the center to the federating units,” the communique added.

In its preamble, The Patriots said it was guided by the aspirations of the Nigerian people for fairness, social justice, equity, security, and sustainable development, and confronted with the present systemic structural and governance failures and dysfunction under the current 1999 Constitution (as amended).

It said having been convinced that Nigeria as a political entity needs holistic restructuring and comprehensive overhaul of the existing constitutional framework and governance architecture, the National Summit “resolved to chart a new course for enduring future through renewed and unflagging commitment to demanding a new inclusive; democratic peoples Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the basis of the following resolutions.”