Chief David Edebiri, a Patrioteer and Esogban of Benin has claimed that Nigeria’s development was sabotaged in 1979 when the American Presidential System of government was adopted by leaders of that time – in his opinion, the practice has not been well implemented.
This was said when the elder statesman launched two of his most recent publications, ‘Tripod of Life –: Essence of Benin Tradition and Culture’ and ‘The Life and Times of Iyase N’Ohenmwen.’ to commemorate his 93rd birthday on Friday.
According to him, the heroes who conquered the fight for the freedom of Nigeria didn’t intervene with a biased mind or in their self-interest, but rather in the cause of the country’s unity.
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‘My mentor, Late Chief Anthony Enahoro would invite me to his house and will ask,”is this what we fought for ?” This is part of the questions he will ask before we start any discussion. This is not the concept of the nationalists who fought for the independence of this country, we derailed long ago, when we suddenly threw away the parliamentary system of government and embraced the American Presidential System, but it was embraced haphazardly, because what we are doing today is neither American system, British system, nor Russian system. Some of us have been agitating for a return of the parliamentary system of government.’
‘If you want to adopt a country’s system of government, you adopted it wholesomely and not haphazardly. Today, our judiciary is British and we are operating an American system. What we have is people going into politics for what they are to gain, that is not how it used to be. We fought for this country so that we can be free not because we want to be senators.’
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Prof. Chris Ugolo, previously stated that the nonagenarian already has eleven books and concluded that he is still energetic at 93 years old when he launched them.
At the event, both Professor Eddy Erahagbe, a former dean of the University of Benin’s Faculty of Arts, and Prof Benson Osadolor, a former vice chancellor of the Ambrose Ali University in Ekpoma, presented the books.