Yar’Adua: Why We Must Obey the Law
•Bill on National Council of Traditional Rulers underway
From Hammed ****tu in Ilorin, 08.28.2007
THISDAY ONLINE
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua said yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State, that one of the greatest challenges facing the nation was the growing culture of disrespect for the rule of law.
Speaking when he declared open a 5-day National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the President said in order to check the trend, his administration was fully committed to entrenching an enduring culture of respect for the rule of law and constitutionality in government business.
This was necessary, he said, to enhance the socio-economic development of the nation.
And at the Palace of Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu Gambari, while paying a courtesy call on the monarch, the President said he would soon forward a bill to the National Assembly on the formation of the National Council of Traditional Rulers.
The formation of such council would assist the government to benefit from the experience of the royal fathers in the socio-economic development of the nation, he said.
President Yar’Adua told lawyers and others at the NBA conference that, “persistent peace, stability and progress can only abide in a system that is rooted in equity, justice, the rule of law and the fear of God”.
He said, “the pre-eminence of respect of rule of law and order in the determination of the survival and progress of every human society has its roots in the beginning of human history and our spiritual essence.
“Even, all the major religions espouse this creed and exhort us to be guided by the knowledge and understanding of these laws that govern our interpersonal relationship and our relationship with Almighty God.”
Continuing, he said, “it is a self-evident fact that the more a society has the respect for the rule of law , the more civilised that society is, the more justice, the rule of law and fairness thrive in a society the more stable, developed and prosperous that society is.
“As a nation, one of our greatest challenges has been the evolvement of a culture of disrespect for the rule of law, unbridled corruption, endemic crime, violence, infrastructural deficit, and general malaise in the polity, these all constitutes a direct manifestation of disrespect for the rule of law.”
The President said NBA, as the professional body of lawyers in this country, had a central role to play as a critical agent in driving the national effort at development and growth through strict adherence to and the institutionalisation of a culture of absolute respect for the rule of law.
“This can be done by redefining and redirecting the practice of your profession in the service of our nation’s restoration,” he said.
He said the onus of rebuilding confidence and faith in the rule of law and judicial processes was on the lawyers “and on our own watch, we are to ensure that every breach of the law by whomever without exception is visited with appropriate sanction.”
Welcoming President Yar’Adua to the conference, the NBA National President, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, commended the present government for the establishment of the electoral reforms committee, saying that NBA would do everything possible to support the committee in order to create an enabling environment for the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the growth of democracy.
Agbakoba, who also said that this was the first time the President of the country would attend the national conference of NBA, called on Yar’Adua to address five key issues which he listed to include constitutional and electoral reforms, governance and rule of law, anti-corruption measures, economic development and legal transformation.
He therefore advised the government to authorise the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to draw up a legal strategy that would lead to the revitalisation of the moribund Justice Commission.
Meanwhile, over 4,000 delegates are attending the conference.
At the Palace of Emir of Ilorin, President Yar’Adua said the presentation of the new bill to the National Assembly would be done as soon as his government settled down.
The president was accompanied to the palace by the Governors of Lagos, Rivers and Benue states, Mr.Babatunde Raji Fashola, Sir Celestine Omehia, and Hon. Gabriel Suswan respectively.
He said the council of Traditional Rulers would also counsel the government on the day-to-day administration of the country
While calling on the royal fathers to continue to see to the maintenance of law and order in their different domains, the President said that would go along way in enhancing the socio well-being of the nation.
In his response, the Emir of Ilorin described President Yar’Adua’s visit as a home- coming and prayed to Allah to give him the strength and wisdom to lead the nation to the promise land.
He said the nation was blessed with good and trusted leaders and expressed the hope that the President would accomplish all his electoral promises to the people.
Gambari, a retired jurist, who described NBA as the largest association in Africa, advised the body to continue to maintain its leadership position.
He said NBA had produced many highly respected personalities that had served the nation in various capacities.
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