By Chinelo Obogo
Senator Shuaib Salisu, who represents Ogun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has emphasised the importance of honouring a member of the Senate in the Second Republic, Kunle Oyero, on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
He informed the Senate about Oyero’s birthday through a motion of urgent importance during the Senate plenary.
The motion was co-sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, and Ede Dafinone (Delta Central), a son of David Dafinone who was a contemporary of Oyero.
He described Oyero as an elder statesman and philanthropist who turned 100 years on Saturday, October 28, 2023. He said Oyero is an accomplished lawyer who was called to the English Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1955. He was enrolled at the Supreme Court in Nigeria on February 16, 1956, and served the Nigerian Bar in various capacities, including chairman of the Lagos Branch between 1967 and 1970. He was the first national vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association and later a member of the Council on Legal Education between 1972 and 1978.
The lawmaker, commending Oyero’s contributions to the nation in various capacities, particularly as a senator in the Second Republic, said he was worthy of celebration by all.
Salisu moved the motion to send a Senate delegation to attend a colloquy marking the centenarian’s birthday on Saturday, November 11, 2023, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He also called for a congratulatory letter from the Senate president to Oyero.
Extolling the centenarian, Salisu said Oyero, a member of the African Bar Association, Commonwealth Bar Association, and International Bar Association, held positions such as president of the Nigerian Youth Congress, second secretary of the Socialist Workers and Farmers Party of Nigeria, and president of the Federation of Nigerian Youths.
“As a demonstration of his love for youths and education, he has awarded over 400 scholarships in the last 35 years, among other philanthropic gestures.
“In addition to being a senator, Oyero played significant roles in the politics of our dear country, including but not limited to serving as an elected member of the Rotimi William’s led Constitution Drafting Committee (popularly called the Committee of 50 Wise Men) set up by the then Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, that drafted the 1979 Constitution,” Salisu said.