Ango Abdullahi
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.
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