Obasanjo Criticises NASS Over Bloated Salary Package

ADO-EKITI – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has faulted the bloat­ed salaries being enjoyed by the members of the National Assembly.

He spoke in Ado-Ekiti during the colloquium held in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the foremost Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afe Babalola, at the bar.

Speaking on the remunera­tion of the members of the Ni­gerian parliament, Obasanjo alleged that the legislators did not allow the institution con­stitutionally saddled with the responsibility to determine it but decided to fix it themselves.

He argued that nobody would appreciate democracy until it impacts positively on the lives of the ordinary man.

“By the Nigerian constitu­tion, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Com­mission supposed to fix the salaries and emoluments of the members of the National Assembly but they set the con­stitution aside and decided to fix their salaries. Even, if it is constitutional, it is not moral but it is neither constitutional nor moral”, he said.

Obasanjo stated that the democracy of a nation is very important, noting that it is a journey and not a destination.

He explained that democra­cy can only be strengthened if the players respect and ensure implementation of the consti­tution to the letter.

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

According to him, democra­cy, good governance must lead to the welfare and wellbeing of the people, particularly the common people.

“In the American constitu­tion, every person is born equal not every citizen, and they en­joy the constitutional right. But with us, the constitution is breached.

“We have no democracy that delivers the dividends of democ­racy. And if your democracy does not deliver, anything goes.

“Most of the people who are supposed to manage the constitution are the ones who undermine the constitution. Your democracy must deliver the dividends of democracy.

“I believe that constitution­alism, democracy must be for the welfare and wellbeing of the people. Leadership at all levels requires certain things, character, understanding, knowledge, sacrifice and if these are not there, we are de­ceiving ourselves.

“All these must lead to the welfare, prosperity, security of the people and if we cannot manage it doesn’t matter what we talk about constitution, de­mocracy.”

Obasanjo described the legal icon as a titan at the bar, astute litigator, bar leader both nationally and internationally, adding that he is a rare breed who combines comeliness with brilliance as he rose to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

In his remarks, the Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oye­banji, who joined other em­inent Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ooni of Ife, Oba Ad­eyeye Ogunwusi; former Com­monwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, among others, to celebrate the 60th an­niversary of Babalola’s call to bar, thanked the ABUAD found­er for providing platforms for many Nigerians who were once hopeless to realise their dreams.

Oyebanji, who reminisced on Afe Babalola’s prominent roles 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 in the state at different time.

Oyebanji, who set aside his prepared speech, also regaled the audience with the story of how he utilised Babalola’s facil­ities at his Emmanuel Cham­ber, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for his Master’s degree programme at the University of Ibadan in the early nineties.

The governor added that he was always getting his papers typed and photocopied at the chamber through a friend who was a lawyer at the chamber at that time, adding 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 of it.

He also narrated how he was happy carrying Aare Afe Babalola’s books during the presentation on Ekiti State creation at the panel set up by the then military government as well as the legal luminary’s demonstrated humility and brilliance during the presenta­tion and the meetings that pre­ceded the main presentation.

Speaking further, the gover­nor who described Afe Babalo­la as his father, said the ABUAD founder remains a rare gem and a gift to Ekiti, Nigeria and mankind.

“Daddy, I congratulate you, thank you so much for what you are for humanity, thank you so much for providing 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 comment 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 got 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”, the governor asserted. “So, on behalf of myself and all the governors before me, I say thank you sir.”