Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on Nigerian politicians to be more selfless in their service to the country.
Osinbajo made the call at a reception organized in honor of Muiz Banire, the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress at the Oceanview Restaurant of Eko Hotels, Lagos, on Saturday.
Banire was last Monday among the select few legal practitioners in the country that were decorated with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The vice president, a SAN and Professor of Law too, described Banire as a selfless politician and an embodiment of good qualities, adding that, “he was a serious minded student, consummate intellectual, a politician and a great scholar who deserves this great honour”.
Dignitaries at the event included Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola; the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase; former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; and his ex-deputy, Adejoke Orelope;
Others were Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, represented by his deputy, Oluranti Adebule; Kaduna State Governor , Nasir el-Rufai, represented by Senator Sulaimon Garba; former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Otuama; Senator Olorunimbe Mamora; Chief Femi Okunnu; Chief Julius Adelusi; Senator Ganiyu Solomon; and several Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, State and Federal High Court judges.
In his goodwill message, Aregbesola described the celebrant as a man of integrity, while urging him to stay focused in his selfless service to the country and humanity.
Also, the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said Banire’s elevation to a SAN “is long in coming”, adding that “Your love for justice and nation has brought you this far”.
A senior legal practioner, Ladi Williams (SAN), also said, “I have been impressed by his hard work, intelligence and intellectualism. I wrote his recommendation for his SAN application because of his doggedness and he’s highly knowledgeable in law”.
Speaking on behalf of ex-commissioners in Lagos, Dr. Leke Pitan, described Banire as “a steadfast, eloquent and sincere person”.
In his remarks on the occasion, Fashola said Banire’s elevation “was a most deserving award for his selfless contribution to the development of law in Nigeria”.
In his vote of thanks, Banire expressed his appreciation to all the dignitar¬ies who attended the event, say¬ing, “This will surely spur me to do more in my profession, my country and humanity”.
