Presidential system too expensive – IBM Haruna says

Retired Maj. Gen. IBM Haruna has called for a shift from the presidential system of governance to social democracy to reduce cost of governance.

Haruna, who is also the Chairman of the North East Leaders of Thought (NELT), said this at a news conference in commemoration of his 84th birthday, on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, it is time for all citizens to think seriously about the type of constitution being operated.

“The presidential system is so expensive and it gives power to individuals that are elected more than the people that elect them. Once the politicians are elected, they are hardly seen in their constituencies.

“Constituency offices are barely present. Nigerian elections are for the highest bidders.

“Corruption has spread overboard to bureaucracies and the security sector. This breaks my heart. This is not what we envisaged. We wanted Nigeria to be a shining example for Africa.

‘”I will, therefore, recommend the practice of social democracy for the country.

“Social democracy is not an onslaught against liberal democracy, but it provides opportunity for smoothening the ‘rough edges of capitalism’ which bites the common-man so hard.”

Haruna said he was not calling for the abolition of liberal democracy with its capitalist tendency, but pointed out that its excesses must be mitigated.

He noted that advanced countries where liberal political economy is practiced had evolved social democracy and identified some of the nations to include Germany, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Canada, UK, New Zealand and the U.S.

He urged the Nigerian government to look inward in addressing the immediate food security threats.

“ It is not as if there are no foodstuffs in the country. We do have foods but the challenges are the sudden withdrawal of subsidy and the high cost of transportation has made the cost of living expensive for the common man.

“ Agriculture the world over is being subsidised. I think it is a wrong policy for the government to withdraw subsidy on agriculture.

“ I think there is a need for a review of government policy on agriculture.

“Government should also look carefully through the regulatory agencies such on infiltration of Genetically Modified food systems (otherwise known as GMO), and its health implications to the citizens.’’

Haruna commended the performance of President Bola Tinubu as Chairman of ECOWAS which, he said, had earned him a second term.

He urged the president to do everything possible to bring back all aggrieved West African nations such as Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea (Conakry) .

“Remember that Niger and most other African countries stood by us in most of our global trial moments, especially during the civil war and the time Nigeria was declared a pariah state by the Commonwealth of Nations and the Western world.

“We are better united and stronger together,” he said

He also called on the military and the police to remain focused in the defense of the country.

This, he said, was because the security of the nation is the last bastion in defense of its democracy and the institutions.

“Nigeria must remain indissoluble as a democratic country. The military must keep their sacred duty to the Nigerian people.’’