Tony Cole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State’s 2023 election, has argued that Nigeria’s U.S-style presidential model is unsuited to the country’s realities.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Cole contended that Nigeria’s current political architecture “was designed to be hijacked by a few people,” insisting that flaws in the system must be confronted head-on.
“This American system that is called the presidential system in Nigeria we need to go and address it,” he declared.
“We cannot import a parliamentary system from the UK and work here. We cannot import a presidential system; it will not work here as in every African country.”
“Are we satisfied with the system and democracy we adapted? No, because it is contrary to who we are.”
Cole maintained that the framework “can be easily exploited by a few” because Nigeria has “not built institutions you can hold accountable,” noting that those institutions are “modelled along the British system” which, he emphasized, “is not our system.”
Turning to foreign policy, he urged the country’s leaders to reposition Nigeria as a forceful, self-assured negotiator on the international stage. “You should do two clear things.
“First of all, position Nigeria as a serious negotiator on the table,” he said. “One thing we must understand is that, if Nigeria gets it right, not only the sub-region, the whole of Africa will begin to pay attention.”
“So Nigeria commands influence. But when you are commanding influence, you don’t go begging. So, you have a clear issue of what is good for us.”
