The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi has disclosed that the sustainability of Nigeria’s democracy depends largely on respect for the principle of rule of law.
Governor Ajimobi stated this at a Special Service for the celebration of 2018/2019 Legal Year held at Central Mosque, Oja’ba, Ibadan.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, stated that the judiciary as the third tier of government has a significant role to play in the country’s march towards true democracy.
Ajimobi said that Oyo State Government and judiciary in the last one year have witness tremendous strides by inaugurating the Oyo State Multi Door Courthouse, which is an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre in order to streamline the court processes and afford parties various options to resolve their disputes without litigation.
He stated further that part of the present administration’s stride is the swearing in of two new judges of the High Court, president and three judges of the Customary Court of Appeal.
Governor Ajimobi, while imploring the judiciary and every member of the public to wake up to their responsibility to ensure not only free and fair but credible elections, promised that the present administration will not shirk its constitutional responsibility to provide for security and welfare of the people of the state.
He congratulated the Oyo State judiciary and in particular, the Nigeria Bar Association branches in the state on the election of their new executive councils.
The Chief Judge, Justice Munta Ladipo Abimbola, while speaking with journalists shortly after the programme, acknowledged that application and implementation of Criminal Justice Act has brought fairness, courage and improvement in justice delivery.
Justice Abimbola promised that in the 2018/2019 Legal Year, Oyo Judiciary will be able to fast track and deliver justice within reasonable period.
While delivering a lecture on the ” The Effect of Corruption on the Nigerian Society: Role of the Elite (Islamic Perspective), Head, Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kamil Oloso, identified that if Nigerian Muslims, politicians and public office holders, private men and women and all relevant stakeholders adhere strictly to the injunctions of Allah and emulate the exemplary leadership qualities of Prophet Muhammad, their involvement in partisan politics and administration will be a blessing not only to Muslims but also to the entire citizenry.
Prof. Oloso said that in order to achieve the desired goal in the fight against corruption, there is need for active involvement of good people in politics.
This year’s Legal Year celebration witnessed reading from the Holy Quran by the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Ladi Abimbola.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
