A University lecturer, Professor Michael Oni, has said Nigeria can never get democratic governance right as long as she continues to patronize westernized form of democracy.
Delivering the 31st inaugural lecture of Babcock University, Professor Oni noted that the westernized form of democracy or majoritarian democracy if not halted, would continue to promote politics of exclusiveness and domination by a section at the federal, states and local governments.
According to him, Nigeria needs more than seeking a majoritarian democracy if she wants to get democratic governance right.
In his lecture, Conceptions and Misconceptions of Majoritarian democracy and elections in Nigeria, Professor Oni said until Nigeria takes into cognizance its environmental peculiarities, the continuous promotion of majoritarian democracy would witness more killings, maiming and widows and widowers in Nigerian politics.
He advocated a legislated cross tabulated zoning, rotational arrangements and the adoption of two party systems and six years single term that would promote government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“We have come to a crossroad in westernized democracy and therefore we need an alternative form of government because our environment is not ripe for a westernized democracy,” he said.
He therefore called for the adoption of tabulated rotational and zoning arrangement at all levels of governance 1participate in governance.
This, according to him, would lessen acrimony and tension associated with power struggle either at the federal or state levels.
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He said a six years single term if adopted would allow the elected leaders to be focused and concentrate on governance instead of dissipating energies on re-elections, reduces expenses on every four year primaries and general elections.
According to him, the proposal was likely to reduce corruption in governance because most of the political office holders in both the executive and legislative arms usually engage in corruption to amass resources for their second term agenda.
The Professor of research methodology and Nigerian government and politics with emphasis on elections and party politics, said only a two-party system was good for Nigeria.
He stated that Nigerians still routing for multi-party system were only deceiving themselves.
Professor Oni said a two party system would mitigate ethnic and religious polarities in Nigerian politics and discourage the use of weak opposition party agents to endorse fraudulent elections results at the polling units or collation centres.
He called for neutrality in the appointment of members of electoral umpire (INEC), saying appointments of INEC chairman and electoral commission should be among serving and retired vice chancellors, rectors of polytechnics and provosts of colleges of education with NUC, NBTE, NCCE and Associations of vice chancellors, rectors of polytechnics and provosts of colleges of education playing prominent roles.
He also called on INEC to henceforth conduct elections on week days to allow members of Adventist denomination as a church to participate in voting exercise.
According to him, it was unfair to exclude over 249, 207 members in Nigeria as at 2018 from voting, adding that this gesture would not only boost voters’ turnout during elections in Nigeria but also promote politics of inclusiveness.
