{"id":176032,"date":"2024-03-09T20:51:41","date_gmt":"2024-03-09T19:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newmail-ng.com\/?p=176032"},"modified":"2024-03-09T20:51:41","modified_gmt":"2024-03-09T19:51:41","slug":"its-time-to-change-nigerias-governance-system-onaiyekan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newmail-ng.com\/its-time-to-change-nigerias-governance-system-onaiyekan\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s time to change Nigeria\u2019s governance system \u2013 Onaiyekan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has said that it was time for Nigeria to change to a system of government that would reduce corruption and bring government closer to the people.<\/p>\n

The Emeritus Catholic Bishop of Abuja, stated this at a policy dialogue on a new governance structure for Nigeria, organised by Abuja School Social and Political Thought (ASSPT), in Abuja.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is time for a change. One thing is definitely sure, we cannot continue the way we are going. If we decide to retain the system we have now, it must change the way it is been practiced.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the easiest way to change is to change the system, then let\u2019s go ahead and change the system to parliamentary, with all its advantages and disadvantages,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

According to him, anything that will bring government closer to the people, reduce discretion for stealing and corruption will be good for the nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy understanding is that the parliamentary system is built in such a way that will not be so easy to steal such humongous sums of money, and misuse of our natural resources legally.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem of this nation is that government people are stealing legally, they don\u2019t even feel that they are stealing. According to my own understanding, if you take more than you deserve, you have stolen.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Onaiyekan cited the provision of pension for governors, saying it was not fair after being\u00a0 well paid to be legally entitled to houses, cars and other things, while a retired police officer goes home with meagre sum as pension.<\/p>\n

He also said that restructuring, not constitutional amendment will save Nigeria.<\/p>\n