The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, yesterday reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to work with, and support the judiciary and legislative arms in the state.
He stated this while administering the Oath of Allegiance and Judicial Oath on the newly-appointed President of the state Customary Court of Appeal, Honourable Justice Tajudeen Mohammed Abdulganiyu.
The governor maintained that the support would help the government to maintain a functional system, noting that his government has, in the last five years, had a cordial relationship with the judiciary
Makinde, while speaking at the event held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan, assured the people that his administration would not relent in its efforts to uplift the judiciary and justice system in the state.
He added that the appointment of Justice Abdulganiyu followed due process and due recommendations without political, religious or ethnic colorations.
He charged the President of the state Customary Court to act judiciously and fairly and to develop the institution to greater expectations.
Makinde said: “We have just performed the swearing-in ceremony of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Oyo State.
“He is a Muslim. He is also not from Ibadan. He is from Igbeti. But we don’t care here in Oyo State. We follow due process. Here, we do what is right. We don’t look at where you are coming from.
“The Chief Judge is from Ibadan. The President of the Customary Court of Appeal of Oyo State is from Oke-Ogun. The Deputy Governor is from Oke-Ogun.
“The emergence of Hon. Justice Abdulganiyu followed due process. He was recommended to the NJC as President of the Customary Court of Appeal and he was duly confirmed. So, we didn’t short-circuit the process.
“We are keeping with our usual practice. We will give him all the support due to his office and our administration has had a cordial relationship with the judiciary in the past five years.”
Makinde used the occasion to counsel young people to pursue their dreams and not allow distractions in their journey of life so that they can achieve greatness.
The governor used the life of Justice Abdulganiyu, who had to eke out a living for himself at a young age and had to pay for his own education, to challenge the young people.
“My message for the younger generation is, don’t think you need to make quick money in life. For you to achieve something that will endure, it will take time and the process is usually very competitive,” he added.
Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony, Honourable Justice Abdulganiyu, promised to promote the customary laws.
He said the customary laws are also enforceable and not inferior to English laws.
He equally assured the people of the state that he would bring the functionality of the Customary Court into more practice, noting that it is an inheritance that must not go into extinction.
