‘Presidential system prone to corruption’

Adegbenro

Samuel Awoyinfa, Abeokuta

Son of a former Premier of the old Western Region, Chief Niyi Adegbenro, has said that Nigeria’s presidential system breeds corruption.

Advocating a return to the parliamentary system of government, Adegbenro added that the presidential system was expensive and prone to abuse.

He also advocated part-time legislature for the country and said that this would produce politicians with ‘genuine intentions to serve the country as opposed to the majority of the current crop of politicians in power’.

Adegbenro, who was a former director of the defunct Allied Bank, disclosed this in Abeokuta during an interview.

Noting that Presisdent Muhammadu Buhari would do his best to reduce corruption, Adegbenro wondered what would happen to the country’s anti-corruption fight after the exit of Buhari.

He advised the current administration to organise a special conference or a referendum on parliamentary system of government.

He said, “The parliamentary system of government is the best to reduce corruption. Buhari will do his bit but  what happens when he leaves?

“So, I’m saying that there must be a special conference or a referendum to determine which system of government to be adopted in Nigeria.

“Presidential system of government is too expensive to run and it is prone to abuse. That is why we are confronted with stories of graft in the newspapers daily.”