Jonathan Urges National Assembly to Consider Best Government Model for Nigeria

Amidst the call for a return to a parliamentary system of government and the adoption of a homegrown democracy for Nigeria, former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the National Assembly to look at the best model of government for the country.

The former president, who said he was “not recommending proportional representation,” said the National Assembly should look at and recommend the best model that suits Nigeria’s intricacies.

Recall that another former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has been at the forefront of the adoption of a homegrown democracy, while a group of 60 members of the House of Representatives have been pushing for the country to return to a parliamentary system of government. Another coalition of federal lawmakers also launched a push on Monday to amend the constitution for a six-year single term for presidents and governors, as well as provision for two vice presidents, as part of efforts to address the anomalies in the current system of governance.

Speaking yesterday at the 2024 Democracy Day lecture to celebrate the 25th anniversary of democracy in Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Jonathan warned that the spirit of a winner-take-all approach to politics, which alienates other parties no matter their performance at the polls, is inimical towards fostering unity in the country.

He said to curb the current state of affairs, especially the winner-takes-all syndrome, the National Assembly needs to come up with a brand of democracy that will suit the country.

Jonathan, who was the chairman of the occasion, tasked Nigerian leaders from national to sub-national levels to consciously tackle the issue of ‘democracy built on sentiments’, saying it must be consciously re-addressed for the nation to achieve a solid and enduring democracy.

“I am not recommending proportional representation, but different governments come with a democracy that suits them, and all presidents of the world do not emerge through the same process; the powers of the president are defined by different constitutions.

“So, our National Assembly can also look at models that will suit us. The zero-sum that parties with 40 per cent of votes at the state level will have nothing and results in the do-or-die, that zero-sum approach is inimical to consolidating and strengthening our democracy,” he said.

Jonathan also berated the ethnic politics in the country. He said democracy built on all kinds of sentiment, such as the way of worship and where you come from, needs to be phased out gradually in the next 25 years.

He also tasked Nigerian leaders to work together irrespective of political differences, thereby accommodating diversities and prioritising policies that will impact the lives of citizens.

“For our democracy to yield its desired dividend, we, the political class and elites, must lead by example and work with unity of purpose to guarantee peace and social justice for the citizens, and our lifestyle must reflect that we are elected people.

“It is imperative to state that we need to work assiduously to strengthen state institutions so that they can withstand all shocks that threaten democratic governance,” he added.

On his part, former speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari, who spoke on the theme “25 Years of Enduring Democracy: The Prospects for the Future” as the guest speaker, said there was a need to pay attention to the shifts in the perception of Nigerians about democracy, adding that, “Democracy can continue to endure only when the people think it is desirable and thus worth keeping and defending.”

Speaking on local government administration, Masari said, “One of the reasons why local government areas are not functioning effectively is because of constitutional confusion about their status.

“On one hand, the local government areas are supposed to be autonomous of the states and are all listed in the constitution. But the same constitution creates joint accounts for states and LGAs, puts the LGAs under the supervision of the states, and mandates the state parliaments to make laws for the LGAs.

He urged for the redefinition of the functions and structure of local governments and removal of the confusion enshrined in the constitution on their status.