Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday flayed lawmakers for determining their pay contrary to the constitutional provision that wages of public officers should be fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal and Allocation Commission (RMFAC).

Obasanjo described the action as not only immoral but unconstitutional.

He spoke at the 60th anniversary of legal luminary Afe Babalola’s call to Bar.

The event, which attracted a cream of Nigeria’s eminent people across professions and political divide, was held at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, owned by the celebrator.
Among the dignitaries there were former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, erstwhile Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola; Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Oyewusi, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed and many a Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

Representatives of the University of London and Kings College, London were also at the occasion.

The event featured a book launch and a lecture titled: “The Future of Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria: Imperative of a New Constitutional Order.”

The lecture was delivered by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Martin Hassan Kukah.

Speakers extolled the Babalola’s virtue and his exploits as a lawyer, educationist and farmer.

They also harped on poor democratic tenets, corruption and insecurity had negatively affected the nation’s development.

Obasanjo said it was saddening that lawmakers who ought to uphold the 1999 Constitution were ”the ones who undermine it.”

According to the former President emoluments of elected officials ought to be fixed by RMAFC and not lawmakers

He said: “Under Paragraph 32(a-e) of Part I to the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the commission (RMAFC) is saddled with determining the remuneration appropriate for political officeholders, including legislators.

“The point in Nigeria which I have seen and which I can attest to is most of the people who are supposed to be operationalising or managing and seeing the Constitution and democracy move forward, they are actually the ones who undermine the Constitution.

“All elected people, by our Constitution, their emolument is supposed to be fixed by the RMFAC, but our lawmakers set that aside and they make laws and put any emolument for themselves.

“Even if that is Constitutional, it is not moral and, of course, what they do is neither Constitutional nor moral.”

He also complained that other aspects of the Constitution such as federal character have been ”absolutely ignored,” thereby making the Federal Character Commission unable to carry out its functions.

Obasanjo warned that when the Constitution is “continually breached,” democracy becomes one in which anything goes.

Describing democracy as a “journey and not a destination,” he argued that it(democracy) would not be appreciated if the impacts were not felt by the people.

He explained that democracy could only be strengthened if the players respected and implemented 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.

He congratulated nonagenarian Babalola, describing him as a titan at the bar, astute litigator and bar leader nationally and internationally.

The ex-President added that the celebrator is a rare breed who combines comeliness with brilliance while rising to the pinnacle of the law profession.

He praised Babalola for being a source of inspiration to the younger generation.

*Nigerians saw worst phase of graft during Buhari’s tenure

Kukah said that Nigerians witnessed the worst phase of corruption under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kukah noted that even though corruption did not start under the last administration, it was amplified in moral, financial and other terms.

He said: “We have seen the worst phase of corruption in Nigeria, Femi Falana, my friend here will speak about that because he has published a series of articles talking about what happened under the Buhari administration.

“They were not the ones who caused corruption but I think in the last administration, we saw the ugliest phase of corruption whether in moral terms, financial terms and other terms.”

The cleric also lamented that Nigeria was sharing its sovereignty with terrorists.

Kukah a vocal critic of the Buhari government received knocks from that government officials, who defended the integrity of their administration stoutly, accusing the priest of being a dishonest analyst of their administration.

*Oyebanji: Babalola, a special gift to Ekiti

Governor Oyebanji described Babalola as a legal colossus and courageous lawyer, who made indelible marks in the legal profession locally and internationally.

He added that Babalola stood out as one who walked his talk as a distinguished lawyer, unbendable and uncompromising in anything he believes in.

While describing the legal luminary as a special gift to Ekiti State, Nigeria and humanity, the governor added that the state was blessed to have produced the “rarest breed of humankind.”

Oyebanji also reminisced on Babalola’s prominent roles in the struggle and eventual creation of Ekiti State.

Also, Oba Ogunwusi hailed the legal icon for being a good example to others in his profession.

He noted that Babalola has earned for himself the truest virtues of honesty, integrity and resilience. The monarch described him as a bridge builder, a resilient fighter for the masses and a selfless social crusader.

* Falana urges Tinubu to lead anti-graft crusade

Human rights lawyer Falana warned that Nigeria had yet put its ugly past behind it, especially with its level of corruption

Falana called on President Bola Tinubu to personally lead the crusade against corruption so that the nation could be a proud member of the international community.

The SAN said: “They steal money meant for the control of erosion. The President must show leadership. I am urging Tinubu to lead an anti-corruption crusade so that Nigeria can take its rightful place in the comity of nations.”

Falana also asked Tinubu to refrain from sending the wrong signal by allowing high-profile politicians with graft cases to visit the Presidential Villa.

“Some of those who are going in and out of the Villa are standing trial for looting the treasury of this country. So, wrong signals must not be sent to our people and the international community,” the senior lawyer said.

“There is somebody here who was our president,” Falana said, “If you were accused of corruption and your case was before the EFCC(Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) or the ICPC(Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission), you would not be appointed to a position of authority. We must go back to that era.”

By Rasaq Ibrahim

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