All the thirty-two (32) members of the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly have been conferred with the Justices of Peace titles.
The titles were conferred on the lawmakers on Tuesday at the Caucus Room of the Parliament Building, Secretariat Ibadan by the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo.
The Clerk of the House, Mrs Yetunde Oludara Awe and her deputy, Mrs Taiwo Akinola Muraina were also honoured with the Justices of Peace titles at the ceremony.
Prof Oyelowo Oyewo said as elected representatives of the people, all the thirty-two members automatically qualified to be Justices of Peace as they are leaders in their various communities.
The Attorney-General said though the conferment was honorific, it is a further call to service to the society.
”The decision to confer it on members of the house is because people have already elected and selected them as leaders by election, hence they are representatives of the people. When it comes to peace building, they are stakeholders and they can bring their experiences in law making to bear in the promotion of peace in their various communities. Basically, by all considerations and yardsticks, they are eminently qualified to be conferred with the title,” Prof Oyelowo Oyewo.
Earlier, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin said the conferment was another first as the 9th Assembly is the pioneer Assembly to have received such honour.
The Speaker assured that the lawmakers are determined to do more in promoting peace in their constituencies.
”We are excited by this honour done to all members of the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly. This will further spur us to be closer to our people and also ensure that everything works,” Ogundoyin assured.