Uwais, Fearon, bag Sardauna memorial peace award


Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Lawal Uwais, Secretary General of Anglican Communion and Chairman of Kaduna Peace Commission, Arch Bishop Josiah Idowu Fearon and Chief of Moroa, Dr Tagwai Sambo all received Sardauna memorial peace award for their effort in engendering peace in Nigeria.  


Former chief medical director of Federal Neuro psychiatric hospital Kaduna, Dr Taiwo Sheikh and Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, who rescued some Christians during one of the sectarian crises in Jos, Plateau state, were also awarded, as Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation organised a lecture to mark the 53rd anniversary of the late Northern Premier’s death on the topic; “A Comparison of the 1963 and 1999 Constitution; The Choice Between Parliamentary and Presidential System of Government for the Country”.
Renowned first class professor of law, Clement Dakas in his keynote address  prescribed a redesigned presidential system of government as the panacea to Nigeria’s democracy hiccups.

Dakas who is a member of the governing council of the International Association of Law Schools, Washington DC, said Nigeria needs a presidential system with multiple vice presidents and proactive legislative arm to reduce the excesses of the executive and hold it accountable to its actions.


Professor Dakas averred that, “though the presidential system is expensive, in parliamentary system, a vote of no confidence can trigger election, which could lead to constant change in government and could be expensive. Also, the parliamentary system as attractive as it may seem, is more likely to lead to authoritarian leadership, as the prime minister is not directly elected by the people and is not accountable to the people.


“Presidential system though has a fixed term of governance, it has the risk of concentration of power in one person which often leads to abuse of power,” Dakas said as he lamented the absence of Northern governors at  the event.


“The Foundation was established in conjunction with the Northern Governors Forum, but today the same Governors are running away from the Foundation. The Governors need to wake up from their slumber and be more dedicated and committed to the legacies of the late Sardauna, who laid the foundation for the present Northern states. It is a thing of shame that the North today is seen as the poverty capital of the Nigeria and is dragging the other parts backward.”
However, one of the discussants and former minister of Justice, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu explained that Nigeria adopted the presidential system in the 60s because the problem of the regions was so serious then and a process that requires that the president must be accepted by majority of the people of the country was best suited for that kind of situation.


The legal icon observed that another disadvantage of the parliamentary system is that the nation has practiced the presidential system of government for 24 years while it  only practiced the parliamentary system for four years. He said then the three regions were given 60% of all the revenue from royalty and rents, adding that now there are 36 states and FCT.


For Bishop Fearon the problem of Nigeria is not about the system of government that the country practices but not having honest people at the helm of the affairs. He added that Nigerians are very religious people but not God fearing, saying there would have been a reduction in the corruption in the country if the leaders are more God fearing.


Chairman of Board of Trustees of Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation and former Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babagida Aliyu said it is time for the country to bring out the strength and weakness of the two Constitutions, adding that the major problem facing the country today is the gap between the government and the people.

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