24th May, 2010
Former governor of Oyo State, Nigeria and a chieftain of the Action Congress (AC), Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, has accused the Federal Government of insincerity over electoral reform.
Adesina expressed his apprehension while chatting with journalists after attending the 40-day fidau prayers for Bintu Agbeke Alli, the mother of Hon. Lateef Adebola Alli, a former member of the House of Representatives, held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Alhaji Adesina who was obviously not comfortable with the pace of work on the reform disclosed that less than seven months to the general elections, he was yet to see any credible move by the Federal Government to reform the electoral system.
On the controversial two-party system, he commended the National Assembly for rejecting it, saying that two-party system cannot serve the interest of 150 million Nigerians.
Adesina recalled that the system did not work when it was introduced by the former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in the aborted third republic, adding that two-party system was a military contraption.
As a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual society with other diverse attributes, the former governor insisted that the present multi-party system is the best for the country, adding: “The parties should be allowed to exist and canvass for votes. With time, the non viable ones will fizzle out.”
On the propriety of President Goodluck Jonathan contesting the presidential election next year, Adesina urged him not to heed the advice of those calling on him to contest, but to spend the one year opportunity he has to address power problem, security and electoral reform.
—Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan