Obasanjo: N’Assembly’s Huge Salary Package Neither Constitutional Nor Moral

•FG should avoid sentiments in political duties, says Kukah 

•Falana tells Tinubu to lead anti-corruption war

•Oyebanji: Afe Babalola, special gift to Ekiti, Nigeria 

•Ooni, Oni, Anyaoku, others celebrate legal icon’s 60 years at the bar

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, took a swipe at members of the National Assembly over what he called their outrageous salary package. Obasanjo said the legislators’ humongous remuneration was neither constitutional nor moral.

The former president spoke in Ado-Ekiti during a colloquium to mark Aare Afe Babalola’s 60th anniversary at the bar. He argued that nobody would appreciate democracy until it had impacted positively on the lives of the ordinary people.

Yesterday, also, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, warned the President Bola Tinubu government against infusing sentiments into the process of governance.

Similarly, Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), called on Tinubu to lead the anti-corruption campaign with a view to ending the menace in the country.

That was as the Ekiti State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, described Babalola as a special gift to Ekiti State, Nigeria, and humanity, in general.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye, Ojaja II; former Ekiti State governor, Segun Oni; and former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, among others, equally celebrated the legal icon’s 60 years at the bar.

Speaking at the occasion, Obasanjo described democracy as a journey and not a destination, explaining that democracy can only be strengthened if the players respect and implement the constitution to the letter.

“Democracy doesn’t mean anything to any man who is hungry, whose life is in danger or whose property is being destroyed,” Obasanjo said.

Pointedly addressing the remuneration of National Assembly members, Obasanjo alleged that the legislators did not allow the institution constitutionally saddled with the responsibility to determine their pay, but decided to fix it themselves.

He stated, “By the Nigerian constitution, the revenue mobilisation and fiscal commission is supposed to fix the salaries and emoluments of members of the National Assembly. But they set the constitution aside and decided to fix their salaries. Even if it’s constitutional, it is not moral. But it is neither constitutional nor moral.”

On his part, Kukah warned against infusing sentiments into the governance process, stressing that upholding the principles of democracy requires selfless service, which should not be sentimentally driven, to foster development. He maintained that many leaders had limited development to their home towns, which, according to him, did not project democracy.

Kukah said, “I must say that Daura in Kastina has enjoyed development over time, owing to the fact that it is the home town of the former president (Muhammadu Buhari). It is disheartening to know that even Kastina as a whole is not even close to development, despite Daura being part of its domain. This does not speak well of our democracy.”

Falana said until Nigeria returned to the era, when corrupt public officers could not take part in the decision-making process, the country might never move forward. He said the country was yet to be free from the shackles of corruption, as politicians accused of corrupt practices were still parading the corridors of power

Falana stated, “Let the president lead an anti-corruption crusade, as right now, we are in trouble as a country. Let’s go back to the era, where people who have been involved in corruption and looting, cannot take part in the decision making process of the country.”

He urged the government to desist from religious discrimination “in places where there are mosques but not church, let the Christians go to court, as it is an act of discrimination.”

Falana also urged citizens to realise and take advantage of their rights, saying, “When a person is killed, one can sue the government to punish the offender or to pay a fee as compensation.”

Oyebanji, who reminisced on Babalola’s prominent role in the struggle and eventual creation of Ekiti State, said the actualisation of the creation of the state was what provided an opportunity for him and all previous governors to become governors at different times.

The governor also recalled how he used Babalola’s facilities at his Emmanuel Chamber, in Ibadan, for his master’s degree programme at the University of Ibadan in the early nineties.

Oyebanji said he was always getting his papers typed and photocopied at the chamber through a friend, who was a lawyer at the chamber at the time. He added that when he asked what would be Babalola’s reaction if he got to know an outsider was using his facilities, his friend replied him that he (Babalola) would be happy to hear that his resources were being used to assist someone in need.

The governor further narrated how he joyfully carried Babalola’s books during the presentations on Ekiti State creation at the panel set up by the then military government. He also talked about the legal luminary’s demonstrated humility and brilliance during the presentations and the meetings.

Oyebanji said, “Daddy, I congratulate you, thank you so much for what you are for humanity; thank you so much for providing a platform for those that are hopeless to have hope, thank you, Daddy, because I can stand here today as Governor of Ekiti State because of people like you.

“When I picked up a lecturing job at University of Ado Ekiti and then started the struggle for the creation of state, I joined the committee as a member and I later became the secretary of the committee. I was the youngest and I was shocked at Daddy’s level of humility and commitment to that cause.

“One picture that always runs through my mind is the day we were going for a panel at Akure to defend our request for the creation of Ekiti State. A night before the presentation, Daddy drove in from Ibadan. We were at Ewi’s palace and Daddy insisted that we do a mock presentation and took comments from everybody.

“When we got to Akure the following day, Daddy’s performance was unforgettable and that singular act of patriotism and commitment to your people gave us Ekiti State.

“If we don’t have this state, I and all others that have been governors of this state will not have a platform to stand-in. So, on behalf of myself and all the governors before me, I say thank you, Sir.”