My very beloved and highly cerebral Prof Lawrence Etim, your rejoinder makes an interesting reading.

However, my own opinion on your post under reference is summarized below thus:

You:

Move back to parliamentary system …

Me:

Does it make sense to progress in error?

I think what we need as a country is not the way forward in error but a U-turn to what has worked for us!

You:

As an independent country, the parliamentary system operated in Nigeria only for about six years – 1960 to 1966 when it was truncated by the first military coup❗

Me:

Correct.

You:

The presidential system has been operating in Nigeria intermittently since 1979.

Me:

Correct.

You:

But why should we think that we will successfully operate the British parliamentary system when we are unable to operate the American presidential system.

Me:

We were not colonized by America and thus, was never really schooled in their system, no matter how we rationalize it!

India with about 6 times Nigeria’s population for example, have consistently practiced the British system they inherited from the British colonizers, and they have been very successful!

So, if India was a success story, why not Nigeria?

You:

Note that our experience of only six years with the parliamentary system was not sufficient for us to understand that system properly to the extent of assuming that we will fair better with that British system.

Me:

Yes, 6 years may not be relatively sufficient but, the morning, to a large extent, indicates how the evening will be.

Don’t forget that parliamentary system was practiced here by our colonial masters long before our independence in 1960.

Recall also that, for about 10 years preceding our independence in 1960, our Regional Governments in the East, West and North achieved giant strides yet to be surmounted till date with the parliamentary system of governance.

So, in a way, we were mentored in the parliamentary system long enough to be able to effectively practice same independently.

Besides, within the period that we practiced the parliamentary system as an independent country, our value systems as a people weren’t eroded. Corruption was a guided secret. There were law and order. The sanctity of human life was maintained. Our money had value. Our educational system was rated far higher than that of America. In fact, America’s first degrees were equated to our higher school certificate (HSC) or less! Foreign students were proud to be privileged to attend our schools. Europeans and Indians among so many others were so proud to be our classroom teachers! The cost of governance was reasonably affordable.

Our hospitals and particularly, UCH Ibadan, was a reputable centre for foreign medical tourism.

Political offices weren’t meant for the highest bidders. In fact, money bags could only support credible people to aspire and acquire political offices and not the other way round as is now. Our judiciary was indeed the last hope of the common man. The list is unending!...

More importantly, there was fear of God Almighty in our endeavours; notwithstanding the very few religious places and practitioners around, as against what we have now! – Highest number of religious places per square kilometres in the world but yet, without holiness and contentment!

Perhaps, using our tongues to count our teeth and, compare and contrast with what we have now in the name of presidential system as against parliamentary system of governance, could be instructive and very revealing!

You:

The Parliamentary system may be less cumbersome to operate financially in the sense some parliamentarians may double as ministers.

Me:

The simplicity and cost effectiveness of the parliamentary system is an added advantage and in fact the beauty of democracy!

You:

But the absence of clear separation of power, lack of checks and balances would precipitate no holds barred corruption and embezzlement.

Me:

Are we better off now on corruption and embezzlement indicators? Aren’t we far worse off now than before?

Has the so-called separation of powers not institutionalized corruption and embezzlement far more than can ever be fathomed in Nigeria?

You:

The wanton level of embezzlement and corruption we experience today is not a consequence of the system but of our people.

Me:

No! It is the people that device and drive the system. It isn’t the other way around!

You:

So, we should change our ways not our means (system)

Me:

No! We need to change both the ways and means as both have been fatally injured and highly devalued over a long period!

Thanks for your kind attention.

•Professor Echefuna’ R.G. ONYEBEADI [DBA; PhDs etc], United Nations Fellow, Eze Oha Ndigbo Gburugburu, Sarki Jama’ar, Oloye, Otunba, etc, is The Ingbese of Oligbo Kingdom.

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