OLA AJAYI, IBADAN
CHIEF Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Austin Alege, SAN and Governor Abiola Ajimobi have described the political crisis in Ekiti State and other parts of the country where some minority legislators impeached the speakers as a bad omen for the country’s democracy.

These notable people who spoke one after the other at the 60th anniversary of the Ibadan Bar, specifically disagreed with the process that led to the recent impeachment of the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, by minority members of the House.

The CJN, who was represented by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ogwuta Nwali, did not mince words on the imbroglio in the state saying it was nothing but an affront on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which political office holders had sworn to protect in the discharge of their responsibilities.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Dr. Festus Adedayo quoted his boss as saying that 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 the generality of the people, particularly as the 2015 elections draw near.

The NBA President, used the forum to express disgust over the police invasion of the National Assembly and the locking out of the members of the House of Representatives.

As a demonstration of playing by the rules, he condemned the use of military personnel in the conduct of elections, saying this was unknown in the history of democratic governance all over the world and should, therefore, no longer be tolerated in the country.

“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.

Governor Ajimobi, while stating that his administration operates an open-door policy, called on the Bar to always make its constructive advice available to his government so that Oyo State could be moved forward.

They all paid tribute to The Ibadan Bar for being the first in the country and for its landmark achievements in the development of The Bar in Nigeria.

“The Ibadan Bar has come a long way with unparalled 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 keep aloof in the face of numerous challenges currently bedeviling 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,’’ Governor Ajimobi said.