An Ilorin-based legal practitioner, Surajudeen Adekunle Bamidele speaks with our JUDICIARY CORRESPONDENT, KAYODE ADEOTI on the disabled Bill signed by President Muhammed Buhari, the N30,000 minimum wage passed by the National Assembly among other issues. Excerpts:
Recently, the President signed a bill that will allow active participation of the disabled persons in the forthcoming poll, would you say such action at this time is politically motivated?
To me, I don’t see need for that bill at this election time and I will say it has political undertone. Once you have blood running in your veins and you’re above 18 years, constitutionally, you are qualified just like somebody that is able. In Nigeria today, there is no discrimination about that. So, that action coming at this time, one can read lots of meanings to it, it could be viewed as a political gimmick to win votes in the forthcoming poll. Constitution has given everyone equal right to vote and be voted for. If that will be signed, it would have been better it has been attended to long before now just to avoid the kind of reactions it is now generating.
Looking at the electoral bill, the presidency failed to assent to it; from the legal perspective, would you say such will impact negatively on the electoral process of 2019…?
Honestly, I don’t see it that way, if assented to now, it will only take us back. I don’t see any reason we should not go by the style we adopted in 2015. And the bill is coming rather late. When it was brought forward then, it was about two months to the election. It will be a waste of time and resources, that’s how I see it.
Criminal charges were filed against the CJN, he was arraigned, now suspended, many Nigerians have faulted these processes on the basis that it is an aberration… What is your view on this?
CJN is a public officer; anyone in a public office must be accountable to the public. Constitution has clearly stated that once such an allegation is proffered against a person, it is the CCT that needs to handle it, it is not an allegation of professional misconduct… The court during his trial observed that CJN was not properly served and that is why he was ordered to be properly served.
On the issue of minimum wage, the N30,000 passed by the National Assembly, how do you see it?
What is the possibility that states can meet up with this amount when they’re all complaining of poor resources. I understand that some can pay even more than while some can’t dare it. Kwara State can pay, including Rivers State and Lagos. The first request was N60,000 and I think that was reasonable. We just need to look inward to ensure the payment of this money.
Looking at the forthcoming election, what do you think can be legally done to ensure violence free poll.
By now we know where the pendulum is swinging, and those that have less hope will be looking for ways of undermining the effort of the other. We should go about the poll with the spirit of sportmanship among our political players. We heard some politicians are saying they’re going to rig, that shouldn’t be, let election come and let people decide. The electorate will determine who wins, politics is about number, the highest number will always take the day.
