Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday said what the country needs is good governance and not a change to parliamentary system of government as being clamoured in some quarters.
The vice president spoke in Ilọrin at the 30th anniversary of Yusuf Ali & Co (Ghalib Chambers).
“Democracy can only survive by adherence to rule of law and quality of governance, not by parliamentary system as being canvassed by some people.
“Many nations that collapsed did so because of lack of access to truth and justice; their access to justice was frustrated and denied,” he said.
Speaking on the aftermath of the litigation that trailed the 2023 electoral process, Shettima added that President Bola Tinubu never influenced the electoral process since he assumed office through the instrument of power.
He said, “President Bola Tinubu never influenced the electoral process and we (presidency) never used instruments of office to hunt or hound perceived opponents standing trial”.
On his part, a former Minister of Works, Raji Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said Nigeria once practised a parliamentary system but failed, which led the country into unwarranted disaster.
He said, “Let’s think deeply about why the parliamentary system failed us. Have we overcome those reasons?”
Rather than calling for a change of system of government, the former minister suggested a liberal democracy that would ensure better and improved livelihood of Nigerians.
He said: “Those calling for system change are instigated by economic reasons. If only they are confident that the government would provide for their economic need, they won’t chant this clamour for change.
“If there is sincerity of purpose, there will be better life for all, even under the present system of government.
“Those calling for change of government are the canvassers of restructuring, which can be done with constitutional review/amendment of the areas not suitable for us,” he suggested.
He said poor distribution of the commonwealth and even development often played a common reason for the call for change of system of government.
“Why must we go back to the system that once catapulted our country into disaster? He queried.
He advised that the country retains the present federal arrangement, with a call that excessive cost of governance be reduced, “not outright call for a parliamentary system.”
In his welcome address, the founder of Ghalib Chambers, Prof Yusuf Ali, appreciated God for what he described as infinite favour and blessings for turning the fortune of the firm beyond expectation.