The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin has charged legal practitioners and the entire judiciary system to ensure rule of law reign over any self-interest in the country.
Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Ibadan Branch 65th Anniversary, and 2019 Law Week tagged, “Law, Probity and Good Governance: Practical Approach to Making Nigeria Greater” on Tuesday, Ogundoyin noted that legal practitioners and the judiciary are the last hope of the masses.
According to him, the supremacy of the rule of law remains the only way human right of a common man can be protected and Nigerian democracy can be safeguarded through check and balance among the three arms of government.
He said, “Coincidentally, today 10th of December is International Human Right Day and legal profession is an influential profession which has the influence over policy, defense of rights, and the pursuit of justice.
“The judiciary deserves every respect from us as individuals, public servants, organisations, government agencies and institutions, as the third arm of government. This is the only way you can discharge your constitutional responsibility without fear or favour.
“Nigerian lawyers like their counterparts all over the world, have civil duty to consolidate Nigerian democracy because optimally in a constitutional democracy.”
Stating political instability, social disequilibrium, insecurity, corruption, ineffective of some public institutions, a declining economy, and lack of a democratic culture as notable Nigerian judiciary problems, Ogundoyin said, “I know these are some of the harsh realities and pragmatic constraints legal practitioners are facing which are limiting their ability to deepen democracy, or even to perform their traditional functions.
“We should always be concerned about what we got wrong. The things we got right are alright and it’s a blessing but we need to be concerned about what we got wrong and without free speech/freedom of expression we may not know the things we do wrong.”
