It is time for a change, Onaiyekan Calls

The Emeritus Catholic Bishop of Abuja, His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has stated that it is time for Nigeria to transition to a new form of government that would lessen corruption and bring the government closer to the people.

He stated this at a policy dialogue on a new governance structure for Nigeria, organised by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought (ASSPT), in Abuja.

“It is time for a change. One thing is definitely sure: we cannot continue the way we are going.

“If we decide to retain the system we have now, it must change the way it is practised.

“If the easiest way to change is to change the system, then let’s go ahead and change the system to parliamentary, with all its advantages and disadvantages,” he added.

He believes that the country will benefit from anything that will decrease discretion for stealing and corruption and bring the government closer to the people.

“My understanding is that the parliamentary system is built in such a way that it will not be so easy to steal such humongous sums of money and misuse our natural resources legally.

“The problem of this nation is that government people are stealing legally, they don’t even feel that they are stealing.

“According to my understanding, if you take more than you deserve, you have stolen.’’

Onaiyekan brought up the governors’ pension plans, arguing that it was unfair for someone with high income to have legal access to homes, vehicles, and other possessions while retired police officers receive pitiful pensions.

He added that restructuring—rather than changing the country’s constitution—will preserve Nigeria.

According to the Cardinal, there is confusion and inefficiency in the Nigerian government system as a result of the constitution’s repeated failure to offer a clear framework for religious matters and governance.

Additionally, he supported the decentralization of power to enable efficient local governance and decision-making.

Nigeria has to transition from a system that has so many baggage to one that offers incentives and penalties, according to House of Representatives Minority Leader Mr. Kingsley Chinda, a supporter of the parliamentary system.

Among the sixty members of the House of Representatives, Chinda is one of the three bills that she introduced to try and change the current Constitution to a parliamentary one.

“The presidential system we adopted from the US is peculiar to their country, not Nigeria,” he said, adding that the parliamentary system would solve most of Nigeria’s problems.

Additionally, he supported the decentralization of power to enable efficient local governance and decision-making.

Nigeria has to transition from a system that has so many baggage to one that offers incentives and penalties, according to House of Representatives Minority Leader Mr. Kingsley Chinda, a supporter of the parliamentary system.

Among the sixty members of the House of Representatives, Chinda is one of the three bills that she introduced to try and change the current Constitution to a parliamentary one.

“The bottom line is that we have no process. We are seeing the good, but we have not defined the process, milestones, and timelines; that’s what’s missing.

“We agree that the house is rotten and it needs to be pulled down, and we should design an alternative model, which you are now selling,” Fapounda stated.