In memory of Festus Iyayi

On Tuesday the 12th of November, 2013 on his way to Kano for the national delegate congress of ASUU where the body was expected to decide on the government’s offer and the various chapter congresses held a day earlier as to whether or not to call off or continue with the industrial action that has […]

On Tuesday the 12th of November, 2013 on his way to Kano for the national delegate congress of ASUU where the body was expected to decide on the government’s offer and the various chapter congresses held a day earlier as to whether or not to call off or continue with the industrial action that has been 4-months old, Professor Iyayi met his death somewhere in Kogi state where his car was hit by a police escort of the governor of the state.
It is indeed saddening that Professor Iyayi, an academic who has lived all his life in the struggle for making the work place and the nation better than it is would face such a violence from the agents of state at a crucial stage of the nation’s socio-economic and political development.
I came close to Professor Iyayi just a few years before his death. Precisely three years ago and since then, we kept a close relationship. I observed that as a true academic, Professor Iyayi kept low profile as a way of life and was humble as is expected by people who are knowledgeable.
At any point one came into contact with the late Iyayi, if you never met or knew him before, you were bound to be attracted by his simplicity and candor. Quite a passionate personality and a thorough bred academic whose depth on any particular issue was deep and incisive.
Put simply, meeting with Professor Iyayi was a great privilege and I am optimistic that all those he met him were astonished at his degree of humility and simplicity. No doubt the death of Professor Iyayi is a great loss to Nigeria as a whole. In people like the late Professor, my confidence of a possibly greater Nigeria was resurrected.
In professor Iyayi I saw truly what is left of quality in the academia against the dominance of pedestrianism in the nation’s academia. Definitely Nigeria would miss the acumen and dedication of this great personality which was cut short by the reckless police driver.
A writer of peace, justice and freedom. An accomplished schlolar and a union leader of repute. The life Professor Festus Iyayi was no doubt great and worthy of emulation by all especially those in the academia. He was accomplished even in death. May his blood water the seeds of revolution in the nation’s educational sector and generally.
May the gentle soul of this patriot rest in peace.
Adieu Professor.

Comments on the Africa Legislative Summit……..
Between the 10th to 13th of November, the National Assembly through its Institute of Legislative Studies organized the first ever Africa Legislative Summit which was attended by delegates from about 50 African countries.
The summit in my view provided the opportunity for legislators across the continent to meet and share experiences on the role and fate of parliaments in respective democracies. The meeting was rewarding to not just the legislators across the continent but also to those who either observe or study the legislature as an institution.
I am of the view that the best capacity building that parliamentarians could have may not be better than when experiences are shared through the different climes and political conditions that operate within the continent. No doubt those who attended the conference must have left more informed and knowledgeable than they came to Abuja.
The meeting was intellectually rewarding to the extent that those who are students of the parliament did come face to face with the practical realities of the similarities and divergences that are abound within the various parliaments on the continent.
I am of the view that there is room for greater linkages within the various legislatures I Africa and more so subsequent hosting of such meetings even if expensive would further provide greater opportunity for the continent to build synergies in the area of legislating which is important in improving the deliverables of democracy.
The Institute of Legislative Studies in my view has done very well and I am of the view that with necessary support from the National Assembly, the sky may as well be the starting point. What I expect to see in the New Year is the commencement of a general summit on Nigerian Parliaments which will provide the opportunity to legislators both at the 36 state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly come together to share ideas and experiences on areas of successes and difficulties.
In my view that will go a long way in building synergy and the capacity of the Nigerian Parliaments. It will be a capacity building exercise that would be unrivaled and thus it should be made a matter of priority by the institute.
If we keep lamenting that our state legislatures are handicapped and of low capacity, one of the best ways to integrate their capacity and relative independence is through constant interaction through such a broader forum which does not exist at the moment.
Certainly the Institute of Legislative Studies has done very well in organizing the first Africa Legislative Summit and what we look forward to is a summit of state and national legislatures.