Assist Nigeria’s Democracy, Lagos Speaker Begs Britain

EROMOSELE EBHOMELE

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji Wednesday appealed to the United Kingdom to urgently come to the assistance of Nigeria so that the fragile democracy being practised in the country could be sustained.

The Speaker, who spoke with the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Peter Carter, when the latter paid a courtesy visit to the Assembly, specifically decried the police barricade of the entrance to the Rivers State Government House recently thereby stopping the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi from gaining entrance to his office.

According to Ikuforiji, such acts by the police portend a great danger to the country’s democracy just as it has renewed the agitation for the establishment of state police to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.

“I want to solicit for the continued support of the United Kingdom for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.

“The world must have noticed some of the infringement of our constitution and that of human rights especially by the government at the centre, particularly the denial of access to residence of the Rivers State governor by the police.

“The government should be called to order. The Federal Government needs to accord due support to our constitution.

“The situation in Rivers as reaffirmed the need for state police,” Ikuforiji noted.

The Speaker, who later led the delegation from the Deputy High Commission round the Assembly complex including the chamber and new office complex for lawmakers, reminded Britain of its cordial relationship with Nigeria calling it a second home to Nigerians.

Ikuforiji also explained to the delegation that the House spent huge sums of human capital development because it wants to remain the best in the country. He noted that the lawmakers and staff often travel abroad for such trainings and thanked the commission for its continued support.

Ikuforiji said: “there is nowhere to turn to for study as parliamentarians other than the United States and United Kingdom and that was responsible for our recent study visit; last week, we were in the Uk for study and just yesterday some of my colleagues and I just arrived from the US.”

Reacting, the Deputy High Commissioner urged the House to continue to embark on such study tour so that the members could remain on top of their responsibilities as lawmakers.

He also encouraged the lawmakers to consider a study tour of Scotland, Whales and Northern Ireland rather than limiting themselves to London.

“I’m very glad for you to study in the US because I have a strong relationship with US; my wife is an American,” he told Ikuforiji.
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