Nobel
Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday took a swipe at the presidential system
of government being practiced in Nigeria, describing it as a model that breeds
corrupt leaders.
He also regretted that those who were not elected bulldoze their ways into
public offices under the present structure of governance.Soyinka, who was among the panelists at the inaugural Public Service Debate convened by the Saint John’s Forum, titled: Will Nigeria Be Better Served By A Parliamentary System of Government?, spoke in Lagos.
The event, which also had former Minister of External Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who was represented by Prof Okechukwu Okoh, Dr. Abduraufu Mustapha as panelists, was moderated by former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
Soyinka further stressed the need for a public discourse on the structure of government that can guarantee fair representation of Nigerians, adding that the public became critiques of the presidential system of government because it is close to kleptomania.
In addition, he argued that unlike parliamentary democracy, the current system of government in Nigeria, is prone to manipulation.
According to Soyinka: ‘’Parliament reminds me of the organization that I belong to, the international parliament of writers. The organization does not make law and does not belong to any constituency. Whatever system of government you operate, is determined by so many factors. There is a straight line between dishonourable members and what Nigeria is going through. Yerima is one of those that make laws but he defiles the law. We need a public discourse on a structure that guarantees representation of the people. Those who were never elected bulldoze their ways to the hallowed House.
‘’You can’t say that after the civil war, people can’t examine the protocol that bind them. The cost of democracy in the two systems, which is cheaper and less open to manipulation? Which one encourages corruption? The public became critiques of the presidential system because it is close to kleptomania. Presidential system breeds corrupt leaders.’’
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