The convener of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NUF) and former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Ango Abdullahi, on Saturday, blamed the deep-seated corruption in the country on the presidential system currently in practice, noting that the presidential system was not only “corruption-ridden but also full of impunity”
The elder statesman, who advocated for a return to parliamentary system of government, stressing that the system was more accountable than the presidential system, also stated that contrary to insinuations that the North was averse to restructuring, the region, indeed, “stands to benefit more.”
This was just as he warned that denying Nigerians free, fair and credible election will be dangerous for the country in 2019, noting that anything short of that would be an invitation to crisis.
Abdullahi, who stated these in Zaria while speaking with newsmen as part of activities to mark his 80th birthday, said:
“To deny the possibility of fair and credible elections in 2019 will be dangerous for the country.”
“I believe in restructuring of this country. I have always argued that our first big mistake was to throw away the parliamentary system of government in favour of the presidential system. The presidential system we know is not for poor countries. It is a sophisticated capitalist-based political system that gives special privileges and advantages to the strong against the weak.
“I argued that parliamentary system is most accountable. In a parliamentary system, you cannot be a minister without being elected from a base. So, you are already accountable.
“Apart from this, the presidential system is corruption-ridden and we have seen it. There is corruption and impunity in the system. If we are going to restructure this country, which I believe we should, our first priority is to move away from this presidential system to parliamentary as a more accountable and less-corrupt system.”
Abdullahi, while speaking on the situation of universities in the country, said lack of funding was the major problem militating against university education.
