The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has described the removal of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker, Adewale Omirin, by minority lawmakers as a rape of democracy. The governor, who spoke at the 60th anniversary of the Ibadan Bar on Tuesday, also frowned on the invasion of the National Assembly by policemen and the use of military personnel during election. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and the President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Austin Alege, (SAN) were also at the event. Ajimobi said there was the need for all players on the political scene to abide by the rules of the game in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, particularly as the 2015 elections drew near. “All organs of government should play their roles within the bounds of the law and constitutional principles. As a governor sworn to an oath of allegiance to uphold the constitution of our land and as a law-abiding citizen of this country, I bear a responsibility to respect the law and the constitution, as well as to express my displeasure whenever the law or the constitution is being violated. This is a duty that every citizen of this country must not shy away from, if we want this democracy to endure and thrive,’’ he said. The governor said that legal practitioners, more than other professionals, must appreciate the dangers inherent in an environment where the constitution was being infringed upon and that the Ibadan Bar, being the conscience of other branches in the country, should take the lead. “The Ibadan Bar has come a long way with unparallel achievements in the advocacy of respect for human rights, good governance and corruption-free society. It is against this background that I wish to state that this Bar cannot afford to stand aloof in the face of numerous challenges currently bedevilling our nation. “Loss of human lives and property on a daily basis as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency must not elude the attention of this Bar. Rape on democracy and democratic norms is an issue that the Ibadan Bar must lead the pack to speak against in the polity. To my mind, this is another opportunity for the Ibadan Bar to lend its voice in the support of democracy and rule of law,’’ Ajimobi said. The CJN, who was represented by a justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ogwuta Nwali, described the development in Ekiti as an affront on the nation’s constitution which political office holders had sworn to protect in the discharge of their responsibilities. The NBA President in his own remark expressed dissatisfaction with the police invasion of the National Assembly, stressing that such an act was an unnecessary interference in the activities of the legislative arm of government.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 04:17:37 +0000
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