Afenifere backs bill for return to parliamentary government

Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, has lauded the National Assembly for waking up to the reality of the need to cut governance costs and restructure Nigeria’s political system.

The organisation, in a press statement issued by Jare Ajayi, its national publicity secretary, however, added that while the proposed change in the political system from presidential to parliamentary was welcome, the country at this point needs more than just a shift from one system of government to another.

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“There is a fundamental need to have the country return to the type of arrangement we had before the military incursion in 1966,” Ajayi stated.

Recall that a bill seeking to effect a change in Nigeria’s governance system from the present presidential to the parliamentary system passed through the first reading on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The bill was sponsored by 60 members of the House of Representatives, led by Wale Raji (APC) representing Epe Federal Constituency in Lagos State.

Reacting, Afenifere posited that Nigeria’s socio-political problem is beyond the system of government being run.

“It weighs more heavily on the structure. This is why we are insisting that the country be restructured. Anything tinkering with the Constitution that fails to tinker with the present structure would be cosmetic,” Ajayi said.

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The Afenifere applauded the lawmakers for recognising the fact that Nigeria was better governed in the First Republic.