By Ayodele Abere
A UK-based Nigerian, Honourable Akin Elekolusi, who was recently emerged as the Councilor of Stevenage Borough Council in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, has appealed to Nigerian leaders to embrace parliamentary system of government.
In a telephone interview with journalists on Tuesday, Hon. Elekolusi hinged his position on the cost of running governance in the country. He explained that the presidential system of government is quite expensive for Nigeria to practice.
“I’m not surprised that some legislators are clamouring for the parliamentary system because the presidential system has a lot of layers of bureaucracy. But the parliamentary system is cheaper in terms of number of people and offices you need to create.
“We need to fashion a system that is actually suited to what we stand for as a people and as a culture. By this, I am thinking of incorporating our traditional rulers to the concept of Nigeria government.They have roles to play at the local level. We can’t dissociate the traditional institutional system in Nigeria from governance at the local levels. They have serious roles to play and at the same time, we need to realize that the local government is supposed to be the most impactful arm of government not the central”.
“In the UK system, we have the National government but all the power is not concentrated in the central government. It revolves around the regions and the local councils as well, as being operated in Nigeria in the early 60s before the 1966 coup. There is no middle tier like we have in Nigeria where we have the state and local governments.
“That’s why governance in the UK is much more effective because when money is disbursed, it comes directly to the local councils and the local councils have power to generate funds as well, and they will go about implementing the development idea of the policies they have.
“It’s the local government that impacts most on the masses. There are ways around these where we can do our practices better in Nigeria. We should make sure that local government carries out directives as laid down in the constitution. It’s s very imperative. They are more integral to the development of their county. Local government has been relegated in Nigeria and that’s where the disconnect occurred. Things do not develop. The public infrastructure deficits in Nigeria are very huge.” Elekolusi explained.
The Councilor-elect who contested under the platform of Labour Party in the UK, said he was the only black candidate that took part out of the 39 seats available in the election held on 3rd of May. He therefore reiterated his readiness to serve the people of his community to the best of his ability.
While acknowledging the people of his community for the confidence reposed in him by voting him as their Councillor, he promised that he would make sure he makes significant impact in his service to the people.
Baring his mind on his emergence, the Honourable Councillor said, it was a mixture of joy and shock.
“It was like an act of body experience, I thought it was in a movie, I thought it wasn’t happening, I thought I was in a dream and sometimes I don’t have the word to describe it.
“Primarily, this is an area where it’s predominantly white, it shows how much people look above racial issue. It shows the kind of community I live in and I am so grateful to God and them. I don’t take the victory for granted, I thank God because I am a first time candidate in this process.
“A lot of people have contacted me, friends and families around the world to congratulate and rejoice with me and my family. I am just even getting used to the idea of me being called a Councillor. When am called Councillor, I would think they are calling someone behind me, I am still trying to get used to it”.
Honourable Akin Elekolusi hails from Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State, Nigeria. His father was a Commissioner under the late Military Administrator of the then old Ondo State, Commodore Bamidele Otiko.
He attended Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State for his secondary education before proceeding to the University of Ado Ekiti, formerly Ondo State University. After his National Youth Service Corps, he left the shores of the country and has been in the UK for about 36 years.
Having lived in London, he and his family later moved out of London to Hertfordshire about 23 years ago and joined the Labour Party as a member in the 80s. Being an active member of the party in his community, he engaged in several community representations of the minority in Hertfordshire.
He had contributed his quota to the advancement of the community affairs while growing up in the area. Before his emergence as a Councillor, he was an IT Project Manager and over the years, he has been engaged in various business activities in the town before becoming a Councillor.