Fight For The Poor To End Poverty, Injustice, Osun Gov. Urges Legal Practitioners

By Ismaeel Uthman

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has challenged legal practitioners and intellectuals in Nigeria to fight for the poor people, describing it as a panacea to end poverty in the country. 

Aregbesola called on the academia to wake up from their slumber and develop the capacity for people to have seamless access to capital for investment as part of efforts to build a worthwhile and prosperous society.

He made the call on Wednesday, in Osogbo at a book presentation titled: “Fundamentals of Secured Finance Laws”, written by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Dr. Ajibola Bashiru.

Aregbesola noted that the best way a society could make a difference is for the educated in the society particularly professionals to be awake to the challenges confronting the poor and develop workable solutions.

The governor urged the intellectuals, particularly legal practitioners to support the society by exploring their God-given repository of knowledge to change the world and turn around the society to enhance greater productivity and prosperity.

He maintained that the only way to put the challenge behind was for the intellectuals to develop capacity where the poor can access financial institution which will get them out of poverty and financial misery.

Aregbesola said: “The injustice in our general economy and legal system is poor; it is poor to the extent that our laws do not give the required value for man.

”We all forget that man is the most valuable asset. We must put value to man. Man should be able to form his own basis with self-recognition and credit.

“This book has challenged the gap in our legal system to ensure that resources are not taken from the poor to enrich the rich because whenever such happens, the world will be chaotic, miserable and sad place to be particularly in Nigeria where we do not give required consideration or thought to life.

“It is unfortunate that life in Nigeria doesn’t really matter to us, we don’t value life and this affects us to the extent that many do face unnecessary challenges to access loan for capital in banks and other financial institutions.

“If we value life, the issue of secured finance laws will not be a thing for discussion. So, it is time for our intellectuals to support solution to inability to have access to capital by the poor because it is only when the poor have access to capital that can liberate the productive capacity of our people.”

The governor applauded the author of the book for his intellect and for creating time despite his political activities and law profession to put his thought and knowledge together for the benefit of the society and mankind.

Reviewing the over 250-page book, the Head of Department of Law, BOWEN University, Iwo, Prof. Olayiwola Oladele who shed light on fundamental conception in secured finance interest, described the book as a thorough researched material and scholarly enriched academic material for legal practitioners, law students and knowledge seekers.