The United Kingdom was urged to support Nigeria in sustaining democracy. The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, made the appeal on Tuesday when Peter Carter, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, paid a courtesy visit to the state Assembly complex.
Mr. Ikuforiji listed the recent incident in Rivers State, when the police prevented the State governor Rotimi Amaechi from entering the Government house, as an example of serious violations.
The Speaker admitted that some cases of breaching the Nigerian constitution and human rights, especially by the Federal Government, must have been noticed by the rest of the world.
He stated that the situation in Rivers has proved the need for state police. The "government at the centre," he said, should be called to order and show respect to the constitution.
Ikuforiji expressed his delight over the visit, adding that the Lagos assembly was in support of human capital development.
Leading the visiting team around the assembly complex, Ikuforiji acknowledged the cordial relationship that has always existed between Nigeria and Britain. The United Kingdom, the Speaker noted, is the mother of all parliaments in the world and a second home to many Nigerians.
"There is nowhere to turn to for study as parliamentarians other than the United States and United Kingdom, and that was responsible for our recent study visit. Last week we were in the UK for study and just yesterday, some of my colleagues and I just arrived from the US," the Speaker added.
In his turn, Carter, who seemed to be pleased with the assembly's choice of UK and US as study tour as he has a strong relationship with US: his wife is an American.
The envoy encouraged the Lagos assembly members not to limit their choices of places to study in UK to London alone.
The Deputy High Commissioner described the Lagos lawmakers as the best in the country, and urged them to continue to be commited to the cause of democracy and to be at the forefront of good governance in Nigeria.
"Your total commitment to the cause of democracy sends a very powerful message to the electorates," Mr. Carter said.
"You must keep up the good work by always putting their electorate first in all you do. It is indeed good to know that the Lagos State House of Assembly is totally committed to all that is good in the democratic process."
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