JOAC: Oputa Panel was to bind the wounds, forgive-Obasanjo
Oru Leaonard, Sarah- Abuja
Justice Oputa Annual Conference (JOAC), was held on 4th December 2018 to promote dialogue on good governance, rule of law and sustained development agenda among policymakers, development partners, diplomatic corps, bilateral associations, researchers, advocacy groups, political organizations, private sector, and other key stakeholders from within and outside Africa.
The Annual Conference was to draw attention of a wide spectrum of Nigerian and African audiences to the necessity and insistence on good governance and promotion of accountability, transparency and efficiency and the rule of law at all levels.
Former president OLUSEGUN OBASANJO and Grand Patron of the Justice Oputa Foundation who endorsed the maiden edition of the Justice Oputa Annual Conference (JOAC), before delivering his keynote presentation said that people misunderstood what the Oputa Panel was set to do, that it was to bind the wounds, and forgive where necessary in other to move forward as a nation.
He thanked the family for making him the patron and promised to be attending the occasions as much as he is strong enough to move around.
In his keynote address titled ” Governance, Accountability and Democracy Delivery “, Obasanjo said that the theme of the conference, “Governance, Law and Development”, resonates well with his mission to promote causes that will bring about good governance, accountability and delivery of democracy dividends which necessitates legitimacy, participation, responsive stewardship, ethical conduct, transparency, predictability and accountability in order to bring social and economic development that translates into reduction of poverty, job creation, wealth generation, provision of social services, policies that give confidence to entrepreneurs and investors to make, create and innovate so that jobs and other opportunities can be realized to improve the promotion of a shared prosperity and inclusive community and shared society.
He further said that without good governance, a society cannot develop and its people cannot reach their full potentials nor arrive safely at its destination, adding that for them to fully grasp the issue of good governance, the various components of good governance must be touched; saying also that at this critical juncture of the country’s national development and national life, they cannot but ensure that the people have the right perspective and making the right decisions as a people on where they want to go and how they want to get there, adding that without clear destination they may not even know when they are lost.
He defined governance as, ”the process that supports the exercise of legitimate authority in the provision of effective leadership in the management of men and resources that is accountable towards the achievement of set objectives of the state or the greater good of all”. He added that no matter its approach and interpretation, there is an international consensus on the need to promote good governance as a foundation for development. He further said that the challenge facing all society is to strengthen institutions, processes and mechanisms that enable full participation of citizens in setting an agenda for sustainable development.
He stated also that good governance is based on the conviction that channeling public resources to basic education, healthcare, employment, security and fundamental rights and social services, adding that without such investments, sustainable development will be a pipe dream . He said that upholding the rule of law in order to bring security, stability and predictability to social, political and economic affairs is a corner stone of good governance.
Obasanjo listed seven Characteristics of good governance to include legitimacy, participation, responsibility, stewardship, ethical conduct, transparency, predictabilty and accountability.i
He concluded by saying that the true masters are the voters, adding that they need to be informed and educated to perform their civic responsibilities as diligently as they should, stressing that, that will be the beginning of good governance.
After his key note presentation, the former president led the former Inspector General of Police, Chief Mike Okiro Dr. Sam Amadi and Kanu Agabi to endorse the books written by Late Justice Oputa, which includes, Modern Bar Advocacy, Law and Dealers of Justice, Reflection on Nigerian Nationhood and Democracy, Our Temple of Justice, Conduct at the Bar, the Eyes of the Law, Judicial Footprint, and Justice Oputa’s notable pronouncements.
While endorsing the book, Chief Obasanjo noted that Justice Oputa worked to strengthen the country’s political stability through his judicial attainment and landmark judgments he delivered, and told participants that the books speak for themselves and shows how prolific an intellectual as well as an icon of judiciary Justice Oputa was, adding that he left his footsteps judicially on the sand of time for good and so prayed that his soul rest in perfect peace.
In his welcome remarks Mr Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charley Boy in the entertainment industry, thanked participants for coming. “I welcome each and every one of you for celebrating a great man, my father, LATE HON. CHUKWUDIFU AKUNNE OPUTA and also thank the team who worked on this together. I really thank my brother BARRISTER GEORGE OPUTA” he said.
With the feeling of nostalgia Charles OPUTA stated there was no love lost between his father and him as he recalled the role his father played in instilling discipline, positive values and spirituality in him. “Everyday there’s sermon and lectures in our household why we must maintain the name OPUTA. It was pounded on our skull that the good name was much more than riches” he said.
Also giving a goodwill message, the Director General, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr. Asishana Okauru Esq. said that the late Justice Oputa was a leading light and compelling advocate for good governance, rule of law and economic development, adding that since the establishment of the Justice Oputa Foundation, the NGF has maintained an admiration for the principles on which the foundation stands.
He remarked that the JOF was established to advance and apply knowledge germane to the legal profession, commerce and industry and public sector through the development, conduct and dissemination of both fundamental and applied research in the areas of governance, law and development makes it imperative for the NGF to associate with the foundation, adding that it meant for them that the baby that they must partner with has been born, as these are the fundamental concepts of good governance and precisely the main scale on which the NGF likes to be assessed.
Okauru who was represented by Mr. Abdulrazak Barkindo, stated that nobody is more concerned about raising the level of governance across board in the country than the NGF which has taken it upon itself to partner with noble groups like JOF who advance governance ethics, adding that they facilitate the access of these groups to those in power at the sub-national so as to spread the benefits of such associations on a larger scale.
On his part, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha who spoke on the topic, “How to build Sustainability Principles into Policy Making in the Provision of Social, Economic and Infrastructural Development in the Public Sector”, said that the annual conference has contributed in forging unity and development in the country.
He further noted that the event is refreshing and worthwhile, adding that sustainability in politics requires due process, noting also that stakeholders must be brought in at the stage of policy formulation and at the level of implementation, stakeholders’ should be involved to make compliance and enforcement easier.
He revealed that the success or failure of a policy is dependent on the Government and stakeholders, stating that Corruption is an evil which everyone must fight for the social and economic benefits.
Earlier in his welcome address ,George Oputa Esq. Executive Director, Justice Oputa Foundation, welcomed the guests to the maiden edition of the conference, stated that the theme which is on governance, law and development is borne out of the concern about the not too impressive level of governance at all levels in the country, as well as the wobbling nature of the economy. He noted that as Nigeria is approaching the election year, the goal of the Justice Oputa Foundation is to reinforce the essence and the supremacy of the rule of law, equality of all citizens before the law, accountability of all to the law, fairness in the application of law, separation of powers, legal certainty and avoidance of arbitrariness.
He also said that the goal of JOF is to highlight how to achieve sustainable development, adding that they aim to focus on how to sustain the development goals by ensuring that the Nigerian public services and industry apply these principles so that they can function more efficiently in regard to service delivery and to achieve the desired growth in the nation’s match towards 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
George, stated that as an advocacy organization, JOF will continue to commit itself to evolving and expanding their goals to excel within the dynamic legal communities and beyond, adding that the late Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa was an advocate for a dynamic judiciary and the rule of law. He called on every one to work together to accomplish the task before them, saying also that in the coming year, they look forward to exceed the expectations of their stakeholders .
