Aregbesola canvasses return to parliamentary system

The re-elected governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that democracy in Nigeria would make more meaning, particularly at the federal level, if the country returns to the parliamentary system of government.

Aregbesola made the observation in Lagos on Monday at the official commissioning of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Legislative Building (freedom house) built by the Amuwo Odofin Local Government.

“To get out from the nadir of absolutism we find ourselves in the presidential system we are practising, we must return to parliamentary system where power is distributed, not resided in the hands of one man to wield the way he wants,” he said.

According to him, “The legitimacy of a democratic government is resided in the legislative arm not with the executive. If sanity is essential reason for having a government, we must as a matter of urgency return to a system that guarantees that sanity. And that is parliamentary.”

“So, I use the occasion of this event to start the debate to return Nigeria to the parliamentary system,” he added.

Aregbesola, who extolled the leadership values of Ayodele Adewale, chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, said he was at the event “to grace the occasion of the distinctive recognition of Asiwaju as leader of leaders,” to “identify with the philosophy behind the structure (legislative building), that the legislature is the heart and soul of democracy,” and to use the event to canvass Nigeria’s return to parliamentary system of government.

In his goodwill message, Babatunde Fashola, governor, Lagos State, represented by Tunji Adebiyi, senior assistant on inter-governmental relations, said the erection of the legislative building by the council chairman was an eloquent testimony of his understanding of governance, and a careful move to avoid conflict between the executive and legislative arms of government. Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, in whose honour the project was raised, was represented by Lola Akande, deputy majority leader, Lagos State House of Assembly.

Tinubu said he doubted the capability of the council chairman to see to the completion of the project when the ground breaking ceremony was performed in 2012. He explained that his greatest joy was the principle behind the project.

“Beyond the building and what it stands for, people-oriented policies should be at the fore-front of policy-formulation. It is very important to get it right at the local level because if the people are not happy, they will transfer their anger to the state and then to the higher level of government,” Tinubu said.

In his address, Ayodele Adewale, chairman of the local government, said the facility was conceptualised to promote separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution, adding that the building underscores the peaceful collaboration between the executive and legislative arms in the local government.

Adewale explained that the one-storey building with long-span alumaco roofing sheets and glazing marble wall façade, has a hallow chamber, executive and popular gallery, making it unique at the local government level.