Erudite lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has described members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly as models that should be emulated by lawmakers in other state Houses of Assembly in the country.
Babalola made this remark when a delegation of the House, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kola Oluwawole, and his deputy, Segun Adewumi, paid him a solidarity visit to him over the vandalisation of some properties of the institution at the weekend.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Speaker, Stephen Gbadamosi, on Tuesday, the lawyer cum educationist noted that the visit to the university was the first of its kind by any House of Assembly leadership in the state, adding that it was a sign that members of the House were true representatives of the people who identified with situations of their constituents.
He said: “Your visit to our institution over this incident shows that you are lawmakers that represent the interest of your constituents.
“Lawmakers in other states of the federation must emulate you.
“As representatives of the people, lawmakers should share in both the grieving and joys of their constituents.
“That is what you have demonstrated by this visit, which is the first of its kind by any House leadership to this school.”
Babalola added that the disturbance was targeted at causing the school to close down, but maintained that authorities of the institution had resolved that no such development would happen.
He said evidence of that was the fact that the school’s examination was ongoing as scheduled under very peaceful and conducive environment.
After members of the Assembly were led on an inspection of the examination halls by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, Oluwawole expressed delight at the candour with which the university handled the aftermath of the disturbance such that it would be hard to know that any such thing happened in the institution some hours before.
He said: “We went round and saw that things are going on as they should in a university environment.
“The arrangement of the students in the examination halls is unique.
“We were told that students from different disciplines and of different levels are mixed together in the halls such that it would be impossible for anyone to cheat.
“The students that carried out the disturbance might have been instigated by enemies of progress to distract the institution.
“But it is obvious that they have failed in their machinations.
“We thank God for your life.
“He will continue to uphold you.”
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