By Charles Maduka
Tonye Cole, the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, has expressed strong reservations about Nigeria’s presidential system of government, arguing that it is not suitable for the country’s unique context.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Cole emphasized the need for Nigeria to reconsider its current system of governance and explore a more indigenous model that aligns with the nation’s cultural and historical background.
According to him, the American-style presidential system currently practised in Nigeria is vulnerable to manipulation by a few individuals and has failed to build accountable institutions. He stressed that governance structures must be tailored to reflect a nation’s realities, just as some Arab and Asian countries have developed political systems that work best for their societies.
“This American system that we call the Presidential system in Nigeria, we need to go and readdress it,” Cole said. “We cannot import the parliamentary system of the UK and expect it to work here. We cannot import a presidential system and expect it to function here either.”
He pointed out that African nations, including Nigeria, need to design political structures that reflect their cultural identity. Cole advocated for a return to indigenous systems of governance that existed before colonial rule, insisting that Nigeria once had functioning political systems during the slave trade era and beyond.
“We are trying to build institutions based on a British model, but our culture does not support that,” he said. “Let us build an African, Nigerian-focused political system. We know what to do. We had a system before colonization—so what are we running away from?”
Cole’s comments come amid growing national conversations on political reforms and restructuring.
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