Rule of Law is the real dividend of Democracy - Eyiboh

The true dividend of democracy, has been described as the rule of law as enshrined in the constitution. The submission was made by immediate past member representing Eket Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Elder Eseme Eyiboh.

 
The former Lawmaker who is currently warming up to retake the seat at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly come 2015 gave this clarification during The annual induction into the prestigious Magna Juris Nigeria (The Liberty Chamber) of the Faculty of Law, University of Uyo, which took place on Friday August 1, 2014 at the Law Assembly.

 
Delivering a lecture titled “THE ROLE OF LAW IN THE ATTAINMENT OF SECURITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA”, Rt. Hon. Eyiboh, argued that, the greatest benefit of our democracy is the fact of the enthronement of the rule of law, which is what guarantees and safeguards the basic freedoms we enjoy as citizens. Eyibo harped that, It is about the basic freedoms and right to movement, life, speech, freedom to hold an opinion, freedom of association, religious freedom and right to fair hearing and exercise of our franchise in the democracy.

 He faulted the supposition that dividends of democracy has to do with infrastructural development or execution of projects, and empowerment programmes. It is however that which deepens our democracy and in turn, ensures that, security and social justice are attainable in the country.

 
On insurgency that is currently afflicting the country, Elder Eyiboh advocated engagement with people who are aggrieved as he maintained that the resort to armed struggle becomes a last resort where the rule of law is undermined and cannot guarantee social justice for the oppressed people. Arguing that history proves no army has completely defeated insurgency before, Eyiboh posited that, the instrument of the rule of law which makes social justice and security possible should be applied to address the root cause of rebellion.

 
He further added that the Legislature is the most important arm of Government in a democracy, given its all important role as the citadel of law making. Rt. Hon. Eyiboh stressed that, the legislature must be strengthened so as to effectively perform this sacred role and called for a thorough leadership recruitment process, whereby, those who are entrusted with leadership positions can be people of high integrity, vision, competence and capacity to transform society and not vagabonds whose output can only endanger and imperil the security of the very society that threw them up. He called for citizen education and sensitization and charged all and sundry to do their bit in the process of nation building so that we can have a better and peaceful society where the ideals of development, economic prosperity, political stability, transparent and accountable leadership can be enthroned.

 
In a vote of thanks, the Lord Chancellor of he 2013/14 Executive Council of Magna Juris Confraternity, faculty of Law, University of Uyo, Morgan Ekanem, praised Rt. Hon. Eyiboh who he said is an eloquent, erudite and irrepressible scholar and patriot whose wealth of knowledge and experience is very much needed by Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria as a whole at such a time as this. He thanked the Lawmaker for honouring them with his presence and the brilliant lecture he delivered.

 
Highpoint of the event was the induction of sixty five new members and investiture and awards to deserving persons.