The Rule of Law is supreme : Sen. Sola Adeyeye

Despite a political atmosphere that looks so tempestuous, I
remain quite optimistic. I strongly believe in the Buhari-
Osinbajo government. The noise level from the flurry of
endless analysts and commentators create more hoopla than
are necessary. It is no big deal when a nominee is denied
confirmation by a legislature.
So far, no one has said that the Nigerian Senate manufactured
the DSS report that caustically scathed Magu. Would American
legal luminaries have gone to press decrying the American
senate for paying attention to an FBI report on a nominee
requiring confirmation? Would an American President dare
resubmit such a name to senate without first resolving the
damning indictment of his nominee by the FBI? Nigeria does
not have a monarchy; we have a presidential democracy. Alas,
tension is a constitutive element of a virile democracy.
I am a strong (perhaps fanatical) supporter of Buhari-Osinbajo.
But they are human; they have not handled some things right.
Pundits bellowing as if the ongoing saga is purely a legal
matter are wrong! Even if they are right, legal matters are not
finalized by the opinions of the loudest lawyers; they are
concluded by the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction!
Celebrated lawyers do not constitute a court! In any case, the
issues at stake are as much matters of politics as they are of
law. The earlier the frontline dramatis personae grasp and
internalize this, the better.
For the avoidance of doubt, let me state here again that I was
a strong supporter of Magu. I enthusiastically canvassed
support for his confirmation. I shouted the loudest "Yea!"
when the vote was taken on his confirmation.
However, once he has not been confirmed, it is my categorical
view that a nominee whose nomination has been rejected by
the senate cannot continue to function in that office.
Otherwise, what was the essence of the legal provision for
confirmation?
Sadly, rumors are being peddled that senators are being
steered in a ploy to heighten a Saraki-Osinbajo conflict to a
point where the Acting President can be impeached so that
Saraki can take over as Acting President. I am not aware of
such a ploy within the senate.
More importantly, I dare say that were such a ploy to exist, it
would woefully and precipitously fail. What matters therefore is
that Prof Osinbajo must not be misled into siding with those
talking as if their own views are the views of the Supreme
Court of Nigeria.
Furthermore, If the senate's rejection of a nomination is
immaterial, why should the senate bother going through the
exercise?
Yusuf Ali was correct; the Nigerian Constitution does not
envisage a ceremonial legislature that must rubbers-stamp
every wish of the Executive.
A quick corollary to this firm opinion however is the very poor
image and negative perception of the senate in the eye of the
public. This pitches emotive issue of morality against the
sanctity of the law. The balancing of these two perspectives
remains a challenge for the senate and equally for a public
that is obviously and justifiably angry.
One solution is to be diligent with the court process rather to
then say that because of public anger at perceived misdeeds
within the senate, the institution should be further weakened.
Otherwise, let us weaken the military, the court or any agency
because as with the legislature, there are misdeeds in these
institutions too!
Osinbajo is God's gift to Nigeria at this time. His calm
temperament and intellectual fecundity suit him for the
challenges of his office. He has 100% of my support. And that
means I must be courageous not to let him veer into needless
battles. Moreover, as Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prof
Osinbajo was the heart of the Tinubu engine that curtailed, on
many occasions, the proclivities of the Obasanjo regime
towards lawlessness. With such an icon at the helms of our
republic's affairs, the Rule of Law must always be supreme.
The republic must avoid procedural shenanigans and political
rigmarole. Th