Presidential system wasteful, says Awujale

The Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, has described the Presidential system of government as a waste.
He said it has encouraged corruption at the highest level of government.
The monarch stated this in Ogun state, southwest Nigeria, in his address at the one day public hearing on the proposed amendment of the 1999 constitution organised by  the House of Representatives at Ogbere, the headquarters of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun state, southwest Nigeria, during a public hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution.
A member of the House of Representatives, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun representing Ijebu East/Ijebu North and Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency, was the facilitator of the public hearing.
The hearing was held simultaneously across the country Saturday.
The Awujale said the system has encouraged corruption to the point that Nigeria is now ranked among the  most corrupt countries in the world.
”The Presidential system has been very wasteful and has encouraged corruption at the highest level of government. Because of this system, Nigeria may now rank within the first four most corrupt countries in the world, which was never the case before. This Presidential system is not ideal for Nigeria because of our many ethnic groups.”
He opined that with the coming into force of the 1999 constitution, the country returned to the Presidential system of government, but claims to be practising federalism.
“The truth of the matter is that our Presidential system has virtually turned Nigeria into a unitary state with a chain of commands borrowed or copied from our past military regimes. Our founding political fathers adopted and practised the Parliamentary system of government for at least five years before and after our independence in 1960.
“In spite of the minor problems, the system worked fairly for the government and the governed until the military intrusion in January 1966. It will be better for Nigeria to return to the Parliamentary system of government and practise true federalism,” the Awujale said.
He further advised that there should be no concentration of powers at the centre, and called for the 1960 constitution to be a good guide towards achieving true federalism rather than the deceptive system we are practising now.
The monarch also called for the total removal of immunity for the President, his deputy and other political office holders, saying that it will check some excesses being perpetrated by some of the politicians in the country.
The Awujale also urged the National Assembly  to endorse the agitation for the creation of Ijebu state, with Ijebu Ode as its capital in order that equity, fairness and justice would prevail in the country.
Several people who spoke at the forum kicked against some provisipons of the present constitution and called for its amendment.
During the hearing, the people of Ijebu unanimously canvassed for the abolition of the Joint Account Allocation Committee, JAAC, saying that there should be autonomy for local government which is the closest to the grassroots.
They said a proper machinery needs to be put in place for effective monitoring and control at the local level.
The people also called for the abolition of the state Independent Electoral Commission and suggested that the local government election should be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deepen democratic process in the country.
The Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Sikiru Kayode Adetona, said the demand for an Ijebu state is based on the need for justice, fair play and the need to restore the rightful position of the Ijebus within the federation.
Speaking on behalf of the Awujale, the Ajalorun of Ijebu Ife, Oba Adesesan Afolorunso Oguntayo said, ”we are confident of the ability of our proposed Ijebu state to survive and prosper, given our population, human resources, geographical spread of infrastructure, mineral resources agricultural and marine resources, existing industrial base, crude oil and petrochemical raw materials with which the territory is endowed.
“We have no doubt that the state will be viable. Ijebu state will have abundant supply of human resources, who are substantially well educated and self-developed and would be committed to its success and survival.”
Among those who presented papers at the gathering were the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, which was represented by its state chairman, Comrade Akeem Ambali, civil society groups, people living with disability, National Council for Women society, traditional rulers, market men and women, artisans, students’l representatives, youth organisations and community development council.
Speaking with journalists after the programme, the facilitator, Abudu-Balogun commended the huge turn out of  people, promising that their yearning and aspiration, especially on the creation of Ijebu state would be addressed.
According to him, ”I am happy today with the turn out of my people. This has shown that they also want some changes in the constitution, especially, the creation of Ijebu state.
“I am the one championing the cause at the lower chamber and I can assure you that with what we saw today, by the time we get back to Abuja and collate all the reports from across the states, we shall move to the next stage.”
Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were former and serving lawmakers, traditional rulers, chiefs and other notable politicians.