By .Sunday Olugbenga Abire
The Social Democratic Party in Ondo State took a needless swipe on the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, Dr Kayode Ajulo, OON, SAN for allegedly churning out propaganda to protect the Commissioner for Finance.
While I am here wondering what propaganda means to the SDP, I think it is important to remind the party who Dr Kayode Ajulo has been over the years and his invaluable contributions to upholding the sanctity of the law as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the State.
Dr Kayode Ajulo, OON, SAN has been an open book in the Nigerian legal space for years. As a matter of fact, he has stoically remained constant like the northern star on national issues. For a man who rose to the apogee of his career and earned the coveted National Honour of OON and enviable mark of distinction of SAN, Ajulo couldn’t have injured the law he swore to protect all his life by taking side with the Executive to humiliate the Legislative arm.
Perhaps, the SDP doesn’t know that Ajulo is more than an appointee of the Governor. He is a platform upon which sanity soars in the State. He belongs to nobody but the laws and this must be to preempt the Hobbesian society where life is solitary, nasty and poor. It is expected of every Chief Law Officer to think ahead of time. Ajulo has done just that with his prompt explanation arising from the imaginary feud between the Legislative and the Executive arms.
Ajulo’s explanation is not just timely but importantly soothing as Ondo State stands to benefit more from a less rancorous ambience where the Legislative arm doesn’t see the Executive as an enemy but partner in progress. If law is about advocacy for a decent society where the rights and obligations of all citizens are upheld, Ajulo should be praised for his intentional and patriotic intervention.
However, a terrible history can only be avoided when men become proactive to avert it. The ugly political feud that has stalled good governance in Rivers State started like a spark between the Executive and the Legislative arms before it became an inferno. Fortunately, our state made it out of her woes during the days of thick confusion and it will be dangerous to return to such inglorious days of infighting.
I commend Dr Ajulo for his giant strides as the Chief Law Officer in Ondo state. Increasing the number of judges from 24 to 35 in order to speed up legal processes is no mean feat at all. His deliberate reforms in the Ministry of Justice cannot be downplayed by anyone. Ajulo made history as he led other counsels of the Ministry of Justice and a federal government agency to the court where he successfully convinced the court to award damages against an oil company whose exploration caused death of about ten Ilaje people in the riverine area of the state.
We will continue to thank God for the gift of a 21st century Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice whose touches are felt everywhere. Ajulo will continue to ensure peaceful coexistence in the state whether in court or out of court.
The SDP is advised to note that Ajulo merely echoed that the Commissioner for Finance whose competence has never been in doubt did not break any law as she was unavoidably absent while a representative was sent to honour the Honourable members of the House of Assembly. The Executive arm under the leadership of Governor Aiyedatiwa holds the Legislative arm in high esteem and won’t do anything to undermine its integrity, independence and constitutionality.
*Sunday Olugbenga Abire is Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Ondo State*
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