Executive Presidential Council is the Way
By
Ugo Harris
Examining the problems and conflicts we have been having in electing, selecting or picking our executive president since the beginning of Nigeria, has lead to so many setback and it has deprived us of our quest for a stable nation. I think in choosing our President we have to try a new system, because of our diversity and the need to make everyone comfortable and to remove fear; which will lead to a more stable political system. It will also make it more difficult for coup makers to find supporters or reason to set the country back.
No matter which zone that produces the next president in 2003 and beyond, we have to admit it Nigeria maybe in serious trouble looking at the situation of things right now. Infact breakup of Nigeria is seriously in the horizon and we do not have to let it happen, because it will be the bloodiest conflict Africans or the World can imagine. Lets reduce this tension now and move Nigeria forward by making meaningful changes in our constitution and electoral system.
My suggestion is Executive Presidential council which has also been suggested by prominent Nigerians like Senator Melford Okilo and others, in this case each of the Zones( South-South, South East, South West, North West, Middle Belt and North East) will elect a person into this Executive Presidential council and within this Presidential Council of Six persons whom will be replaced from his or her zone in case of death, health reasons or removal/impeachment etc. This six member executive Presidential Council will pick a president and Vice- President within and the four other members will be working within this Council on different projects decided by the constitution; and the responsibility of Governing such an ethnic diverse country of 250 ethnic tribe can be manageable and every zone will feel represented at any given time. This Council will have sole responsibility to govern. We can try this to make Nigeria stable and take away this fight over sole Presidency and by this Nigeria will move forward politically and economically; and each zone will have a chance at the Presidency by gentle agreement and working together in the council.
Democracy is good for our growth and diversity but we must not use only American or British System, we have to add some other dimension from Nigeria situation knowing fully well educationally, religiously , culturally and language we are so different from America or Britain. We need our own brand of democracy to fit and contain our explosive situation.
The main Problem in Choosing a President in Nigeria is fear from each of these zones, ethnicity and tribal fears of domination . By this we are removing fear of domination religiously , economically and educationally by having an executive Presidential Council fully empowered to lead Nigeria and I think all these tension in Nigeria will be reduced if this system can be adopted.
We will still have our National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) in place. This Presidential council will have to be empowered fully and totally to govern Nigeria with all the executive power and constitutional responsibility to lead Nigeria. It will reduce the desire for toppling/Coup against the Government and all these tension by every zone claiming right for the presidency in 2003 and beyond will be reduced or removed.
If this system is adopted then every zone and every culture is fully represented and all the talk of war, hell and confusion will be removed from our political system.
Send this suggestion if you can to the Presidency, National Assemby, Governors, State House members, religious leaders, Nigerian Labour Congress, Nigerian Bar Association, Ohanaeze Leadership, Afanifere Leadership, Arewa Leadership, Ijaw Congress, Urhobo Union, Middle Belt union and the leadership of other tribes and groups I did not mention here.
It may not be the best suggestion, but we need all the good ideas and suggestion to keep the most influential black nation on earth together.
Ugo Harris
Nigeria Democracy and Justice Project
Washington, DC