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Tonye Cole, the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, has urged Nigeria to abandon its current presidential system of government, arguing it is ill-suited to the country’s cultural and political context. Speaking on Friday, May 16, 2025, Cole called for a return to an indigenous, African-focused political system to address Nigeria’s governance challenges.
Cole criticized the adoption of foreign political models, stating, “This American system that we call the presidential system in Nigeria, we need to readdress it. We cannot import the parliamentary system of the UK, and it will work here; we cannot import a presidential system, it will not work here.” He argued that African nations, including Nigeria, are broadly dissatisfied with their political systems because they are “absolutely contrary” to their cultural identities.
Highlighting examples of countries like China and Arab nations that have developed governance systems tailored to their unique contexts, Cole emphasized that Nigeria must follow suit. “Every successful country has developed a system of government tailored to its context,” he said, noting that Nigeria had a functional indigenous political structure before European colonization.
Cole advocated for a system rooted in Nigeria’s cultural heritage, stating, “Let us build an African, Nigerian-focused political system. We had a political system before the Europeans came, even during the slave trade. So, what are we running away from? We know what to do.”
He identified the presidential system’s susceptibility to exploitation by a few as a key flaw, noting that it has failed to build institutions capable of ensuring accountability. Cole also criticized Nigeria’s reliance on British-modeled institutions, which he argued are incompatible with Nigerian culture.
The former governorship candidate’s remarks come amid growing debates about Nigeria’s governance structure and its ability to address systemic challenges.
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