Legal experts and academics have raised serious concerns over threat to the observant of rule of law in the country under the current democratic dispensation.
They spoke at a symposium titled- The Rule of Law in Contemporay Nigeria: An Indepth Analysis organised to mark the 90th Birthday of Chief Oladipo Jimilehin,a lawyer and politician at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs on Thursday.
The Keynote Speaker Senator Osererheien Osunbor,a professor of Law and former Chairman of Nigeria Law Commission and Governor of Edo state observed that the executive under the present dispensation has turned the legislative arm of government into a rubber stamp.
He pointed at the failure of the executive to implement the Supreme Court ruling on direct funding of local governments in the country adding that this has affected development.
Professor Osunbor,a one time Governor of Edo state also decried the attitude of the legislative arm to various infringements by the President Bola Tinubus administration.
In his own remark,one of the discussants, Honourable Justice Suyi Olateru Olagbegi declared that democracy died the day the military intervened on January 15,1966 adding that successive military and civilian governments have not fared better.
In his own contribution,Dr Odubote who represented Professor Taiwo Osipitan of the University of Lagos observed that concentration of two much power in the executive has limited the success of the rule of law.
He canvassed a return to the regional system of government to curb too much power in the hand of the executive and devolution of power to the region to solve the erosion of rule of law.
Said he,”concentration of too much power in the e executive at the centre weakens the rule of law”
He also called for the adoption of appropriate technology to reduce human interaction in the way we appoint judges.
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As for him,the strengthening of the EFCC and ICPC will impact positively on the rule of law.
Faces @ the Symposium:
Speaking at the occasion,Professor Femi Olubanjo a Research Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs said their is democratization of impunity in all spheres of national life adding,”there is impunity all over the place and this has enthroned a culture of a nation where culture of impunity reigns .
“A situation where you have governors and legislators in office who did not win elections create a situation where people in give are criminals.
In his own remark,the moderator,Chief Supo Sonibare,a leading lawyer and politician said Nigerians must be interested in who become their leaders to create a better society.
