As the controversy surrounding the choice of the
new leadership of the seventh National Assembly rages, a retired Supreme
Court justice, Justice Kayode Eso, has asked Nigerians to allow the
lawmakers to elect their leaders themselves.
He said it was morally wrong for the choice of NASS leaders to be decided outside the chambers of the legislative houses.
Eso made his position known on Friday shortly after a legal luminary, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), administered oaths of office on prefects and members of parliaments of the Bodija International College, Ibadan, who were recently democratically elected by their colleagues.
The retired jurist, who is the chairman, Board of Governors of the college, said since lawmakers had been elected to represent their constituents at the NASS, such representatives should be given the free hands to elect their leaders.
He urged the nation to learn from the students of the school, who elected their leaders in a free, fair and credible election without an undue influence as prevalent in the larger society.
He said, “These prefects were elected by their peers and were not nominated by the authorities. I wish the nation will learn from the college. There was no stealing of votes and stuffing of ballot boxes in the election conducted in the college.
“We decided to adopt this style shortly after the so-called 2003 general elections in the country, which was a mere selection. We thought the best thing to do was to start inculcating the tenets of democracy in these children when they are still young.”
Eso regretted that when some of the students were taken to the Oyo State House of Assembly to learn the legislative process, they were alarmed at what they saw.
“In the gallery were people who had no business being there. Even the lawmakers who were supposed to be passing useful bills were busy chanting party slogans. That was why we decided that we must teach the nation how to do it,” he said.
Another legal luminary, Chief Folake Solanke (SAN), observed that many of the problems bedevilling the nation emanated from poor leadership.
Solanke, who is the first female SAN in the country, regretted that rather than serve the people, Nigerian leaders were busy serving their pockets.
He urged the students to continue with the legacy and refuse to be put off by the poor leadership being exhibited by the present leaders.
“Be guided by the content of your oath of office,” she said. “Many of our national leaders see their oaths of office as mere recitation; they mouth it and forget about it. You should not emulate them.”
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan Courtesy Of: Punch
He said it was morally wrong for the choice of NASS leaders to be decided outside the chambers of the legislative houses.
Eso made his position known on Friday shortly after a legal luminary, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), administered oaths of office on prefects and members of parliaments of the Bodija International College, Ibadan, who were recently democratically elected by their colleagues.
The retired jurist, who is the chairman, Board of Governors of the college, said since lawmakers had been elected to represent their constituents at the NASS, such representatives should be given the free hands to elect their leaders.
He urged the nation to learn from the students of the school, who elected their leaders in a free, fair and credible election without an undue influence as prevalent in the larger society.
He said, “These prefects were elected by their peers and were not nominated by the authorities. I wish the nation will learn from the college. There was no stealing of votes and stuffing of ballot boxes in the election conducted in the college.
“We decided to adopt this style shortly after the so-called 2003 general elections in the country, which was a mere selection. We thought the best thing to do was to start inculcating the tenets of democracy in these children when they are still young.”
Eso regretted that when some of the students were taken to the Oyo State House of Assembly to learn the legislative process, they were alarmed at what they saw.
“In the gallery were people who had no business being there. Even the lawmakers who were supposed to be passing useful bills were busy chanting party slogans. That was why we decided that we must teach the nation how to do it,” he said.
Another legal luminary, Chief Folake Solanke (SAN), observed that many of the problems bedevilling the nation emanated from poor leadership.
Solanke, who is the first female SAN in the country, regretted that rather than serve the people, Nigerian leaders were busy serving their pockets.
He urged the students to continue with the legacy and refuse to be put off by the poor leadership being exhibited by the present leaders.
“Be guided by the content of your oath of office,” she said. “Many of our national leaders see their oaths of office as mere recitation; they mouth it and forget about it. You should not emulate them.”
By Olalekan Adetayo, Ibadan Courtesy Of: Punch
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