Former president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi hit out at Nigeria’s experiment with federalism, and insisted that the best system for the nation was parliamentary.
Speaking to journalists in Katsina yesterday, Umar said there was the need to revert to the parliamentary system as practiced in the first republic, because “It is more transparent, less expensive and more responsible.”
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He attributed the current calls for the restructuring of Nigeria’s federalism, as being done in some quarters, to inherent default in the federal system, and said that the parliamentary system sustains local representation.
“I think the current calls for restructuring takes us to the need for parliamentary system,” he said, and added that, “If we go back to the parliamentary system, a lot of these issues we are now discussing,that are causing confusionwill be sorted out.”
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“In parliamentary system, you find out that most of the powers will be concentrated at the regional level or whatever you call it, so that the question of nationalising things does not arise,” he added.
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Reacting to the growing cost of governance, the retired justice said there was nothing anyone could do about it, because it was inherent in the system, and recalled that the constitution provides for a minister from each state. He also noted that, “The president cannot avoid that.”
The justice, who holds the traditional title ?of Walin Hausa, noted that the recent threats to security, as witnessed in different parts of the country, was caused by poverty and government’s failure to provide essential services.
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“We have to address unemployment and poverty generally. Additionally, government must address those social issues that bedeviled the lives of the people,” he said, and added that, “our leaders must review the way they administer their responsibilities.”
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