Businessman and All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Rivers State, Tonye Cole says the presidential system of government is an anathema to the Nigeria’s tradition and culture.
Cole, the 2023 APC governorship candidate in the oil rich state stated this while featuring on Channels Television Programme, Politics Today on Friday, saying this is why the system has not worked for the country.
Nigeria must embrace a system that both suit its culture rather than practising the presidential system that’s obtainable in the United States and the Parliamentary system as being practised in the United Kingdom.
The APC chieftain spoke few days after some lawmakers in the National Assembly proposed a rotational presidency, which they insist is capable of promoting inclusiveness in the country.
The motion was however rejected by majority of members in the House of Representatives.
According to Cole, practising Presidential or Parliamentary system as it works in the US and UK respectively cannot be suitable for Nigeria because the two systems and democracy are “contrary to who we are.”
He added that the presidential system has not worked in Nigeria because it has been hijacked by a few, citing counties such as China and Arab countries which settled for a home-grown political models that are now working for them.
He stated that Africa had their own political systems before the Europeans came, wondering why Africans cannot practise the model that suit their culture and tradition. enies
“Let us build an African,” Cole affirmed saying foreign models have failed to work in the continent. 0:00 / 0:00
Cole: “This American system that we call the Presidential system in Nigeria, we need to go and readdress it. We cannot import the parliamentary system of the UK, and it will not work here; we cannot import a presidential system, and it will not work here.
“Every African in their country are satisfied with the political system and democracy they have, but they will tell you no. Why? Because it is contrary to who we are, absolutely contrary.
“Let us build an African, Nigerian-focused political system, and we will have it. We had a political system before the Europeans came, and we had a political system even when the slave trade was going on. So, what are we running away from? We know what to do.”
On Tuesday, lawmakers in the Nigeria’s House of Representatives shut down a motion calling for rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones in the country, saying this is not the solution to the country’s myriads of problems.
One of the lawmakers, Aliyu Madaki while opposing the motion said, “Rotation of the presidency should not be a constitutional matter.“Existing political parties already have internal mechanisms to ensure fair and equitable representation in the distribution of offices during elections.”
Also, Sada Soli representing Katsina state criticised the bill as “disingenuous,” warning that it could compromise the quality of leadership.
Soli said, “Adopting a rotational principle for the presidency will not serve the country’s best interests,” he said. “It will fuel regional and ethnic rivalry.”
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