A group from Benin, called God and People Prayer Parliament, has suggested that Nigeria should be reorganized into eight regional parliamentary governments.
The group's National Chairman, Dr Dele Oluwatade, presented the proposal in Benin City. He explained that in the new arrangement, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would become a Prime Minister and lead the Premiers of the eight regions to create a more secure Nigeria federation.
The group has asked the President and the National Assembly to quickly establish the structures needed to start discussions about restructuring the country.
The group pointed out that during the First Republic, there were significant democratic mistakes in the parliamentary system at the time of independence. These included not having a provision for a referendum, a way for regions to leave the federal union, and defining the territorial integrity of the regions in the country's constitution.
Oluwatade stated that the absence of crucial democratic stabilizers contributed to the mishandling of the 'crisis in the West,' which could have been resolved without declaring a state of emergency. He emphasized the need for at least five democratic provisions in the Constitution for a stable Nigeria.
He listed the five provisions as a referendum clause, an exit clause, regional integrity clause, expulsion clause, and intervention clause.
Oluwatade criticized the presidential system of government as 'a drain-pipe democracy' and the cause of deep fiscal corruption in the country. He argued that a non-productive country should not operate such an expensive government system, and that the advantages of the parliamentary system are closest to the definition of democracy.
He also mentioned that the political processes of election are less costly, fair, and smoother in the parliamentary system compared to the expensive and corrupt presidential elections.
Oluwatade highlighted that another advantage of the parliamentary system is that separatist agitations would decrease and regions would unite to develop their new regions.
He also stated that restructuring would lead to reduced terrorism, as each region would address its security issues without external interference.
Furthermore, restructuring would bring together split ethnic groups for cultural harmony and freedom from oppression.
Oluwatade stressed the need to adopt the parliamentary system to protect all nationalities in Nigeria and prevent anarchy.
Oluwatade added that the parliamentary system helps politicians from different regions to collaborate in a more peaceful political environment compared to the presidential system, promoting a peaceful polity.
He mentioned that the armed forces and police would have a renewed focus on their professional duties and regain lost respect and professional dignity.
