The Commissioner for Rural Development, Barr Ekong Sampson has advised the makers and enforcers of law to ensure that law and policy are well married, so as to ensure the growth and progress of democracy in Nigeria.
Barr Ekong gave the advice last week while lecturing undergraduate lawyers of the Sir Udo Udoma Chambers in the University of Uyo law faculty, during the annual lecture/dinner in honour of the late Justice Albert Udo Udoma.
Speaking during the lecture session, Barr Ekong said that he is of the belief that law and policy are related, and that law cannot be talked about meaningfully without a critical look at the undercurrent of policy; adding that law and policy have to work together in order to have a better and rightful direction.
According to him, whatever is the battle line between law and justice is what makes the difference. He said that law and policy reforms the major ingredients that should guide democracy, and that the way policy is applied is what determines the efficacy of law.
Barr Ekong also warned against the use of law as an instrument of oppression and suppression, saying that rather than using same as tool for anarchy in the society, the application of law should be driven towards showing care and concern over the citizens.
In his words: ‘We are witnesses to what happened in Bukina Faso some days back, where some young adventurers there tried to kick, the people reacted and put an end to that adventure. That clearly shows that the role of the people is critical to the success of democracy; the success of an uprising. And let me also say this; that the era of overthrowing government; the era of military adventurism has gone for good.
“There is no substitute to democracy. Yes we have made some mistakes, it is very normal, we continue in our strife for perfection, but whatever are the imperfection of democracy. There is no same substitute to democracy. We are all here because of the freedom that you are guaranteed by the democratic environment. Law without quality is as unfilthy as it is. It is when we have rich mix of law and policy that we can arrive at a destination of what is a true perspective of law in a modern state.
“But what cannot be denied is that law is the major welder of modern society. Law is the critical bridge that must invariably be erected for a society to be driven. Without law, we wouldn’t have understood the true essence of Sir Udo-Udoma”.
Speaking further on constitution, Barr Ekong raised questions bothering on how people view the constitution- whether as one rigid document that can only be applied to diversify selfish purposes or as an intervention that invariably must be invoked where the circumstance permits so as to satisfy brothers’ imperative. He added that interpreting the constitution at all times in a way that satisfies the brother imperative of the society is a must, if a sustained and healthy democratic environment must be achieved.
Tutoring the young lawyers on how to be of needful use to the society as lawyers, Barr Ekong had this to say: “A good lawyer must be versatile; must be expansive in his research and mental commitment.
“And that brings us to law and policy. Even in war time, one cannot divorce law from policy. You need the two to guide society. So what are we saying, policymakers have to work with lawyers in the society. The role of the lawyers cannot be isolated from the role of policy makers. They must create a rich mix if we must to guide a better society.
“As you step out of the courtroom, as you interact with stakeholders, as you look at government policies, we must as a collective think how we can integrate policy to the modern under current.
“We bear witness to the destruction effort of corruption on the fabric of the Nigerian state. Lawyers, policymakers, law students, the brothers segment of the societies have to adopt a common approach to fighting corruption within the context of the rule of law. Corruption is one cancer that has held back Nigeria and indeed, larger segment of African continent. We as society have to come together, explore creative approaches so that we can check this cancer. Therefore, for this war to be won, all hands must be on deck; due process has to be followed, consistent with dynamic of human right.
Commending the students during the lecture session, Barr Ekong said he was impressed with the desire in them to keep memories of Sir Udoma’s legacy alive, and assured them that their efforts have neither gone in vain nor unnoticed. He promised to support them continually.
Describing Sir Udo-Udoma as a man of many parts, a quintessence of a real lawyer and one of the most outstanding black minds of his time, Barr Ekong said he could not and would never fail to appreciate the students for making a lot of sacrifices to emulate Udoma’s leadership.
He encouraged them to continue emulating the lifetime legacies of Sir Udoma whose life and times, according to him, clearly illustrated how a young man could dakkada from early age to greatness, adding that even at his early twenties, he (Udoma) had already shown signs that he was going to become a man of substance by his thoughts and actions.
Rounding off the session, Barr Ekong Sampson left the students in a prolonged ovation, as he left the stage with the words: “lawyers have to put in their best to help drive the good of the society, just like Sir Udo-Udoma did. Sir Udo-Udoma came, saw and conquered. We have to work very hard to create history in the upper perspective, and one way to achieve this is by aligning law and policies. As a lawyer, you must train your mind to speak anywhere and you must always dakkada”.
Meanwhile, the event also had Mr Inam Okotak as chairman, and Barr Ekanem Ekwere who represented the Dean, Faculty of Law, UNIUYO, among other dignitaries.
No comments:
Post a Comment