The Osun State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola has expressed confidence in the Nigerian judiciary, describing it as an instrument for the sanitisation and stability of democracy.
Oyetola made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the commencement of the 10-Day Special Court Session of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, holding in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.
He said inviting him to deliver a keynote address at the event was a testament to the pedigree of the judiciary as a respecter of constituted authority and fellow arms of government.
“Permit me, Your Lordships, to extend to you the trust and confidence the Government and the People of this State repose in you as esteemed adjudicators in appellate matters.
“Enthroning democracy and the rule of law in our nation’s Fourth Republic has been particularly challenging in our peculiar environment where democratic institutions are weak and are struggling for identity and credibility.
“In this 20-year-old challenging democratic journey, the Judiciary has filled in the gap by providing the barometer for reaching the desired destination.
“At every turn, the Judiciary has lived up to its billing as the last hope of the common man. Indeed, the nation owes the gradual sanitisation and stability of our democracy to the Judiciary.
“As a crucial branch of the judiciary, The Court of Appeal remains a strong pillar in this judicial and political expedition.
“Your Lordships, your current assignment in Osun State is in furtherance of the Judiciary’s role as the arbiter and protector of the rule of law.
“The Judiciary has played this role with vigour and unblemished integrity. It has demonstrated to the people that it remains the filtering agent when unscrupulous elements muddle up our judicial waters.
“The Court of Appeal has established a reputation for itself as the home of landmark judgments in the nation. The preponderance of its judgments upheld by the Supreme Court is proof that it is indeed and in truth the Temple of Justice.
“The statutory position of the Court of Appeal as the exclusive prime place where Justices of the Apex Court of the Land are appointed underscores the importance of your court,” Oyetola said.
The Governor thereafter implored judges to always strive to uphold the very tenets of Appeal Court, which had endeared it to many Nigerians as an haven of nobility and integrity.
“Your Lordships, I warmly welcome you to the State of Osun and wish you all the best as you courageously beam the torch on the dark parts of the appeals before you and give hope to the oppressed,” he said.
