I thank the Hon. Chief Judge of Oyo State the Hon. Justice B.O. Adeniji for her gracious invitation to me to make a speech at this Valedictory Court Session in honour of one of her predecessor-in-office - the Hon. Justice A.A. Ayorinde, who departed this planet earth on Sunday the 13th day of November, 2011.

On the High Court Bench, His Lordship displayed notable attributes of a good judge by his calm and unflustered judicial demeanour and the respect which he extended to lawyers and litigants appearing before him which respect was reciprocated by all concerned. He never descended into the arena of the dispute between the parties. Thus, he ensured a cordial atmosphere in court devoid of unnecessary tension and was very conscious of preserving the dignity of his position as a "judex".

In his book entitled: "Threat to the Rule of Law" published in 1996, on page 19, His Lordship enunciated his attitude towards his judicial functions thus:­

"On being sworn-in, I swore to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. I swore also to apply the laws and usage of this country. A judge in the performance of his judicial functions does not have the freedom to act capricously as he likes, but judiciously and judicially as a fair and just-minded person ..."

Further on page 84 of the book, he cautioned as follows:­

"The standard of behaviour required by the law should always be upheld by the Courts. Judges must not abdicate their duties in order to be good jolly fellows at eating and drinking gathering or at any other place. I was amused a few years ago when I was told I was not social and would always be in trouble with the politicians. I believe a good judge should keep away from socializing with any person but with very few persons of his social standing and orientation".

I dare say that, even if later, His Lordship did run into troubled waters in controversies involving politicians, no one with any true knowledge of the legal process can fault his attitude to the correct behaviour of a judge.

Indeed the title of his book "Threat to the Rule of Law"is somewhat prophetic. Right now, we are in a season of despair and disaffection in which there is a serious threat to the Rule of Law, particularly having regard to the recent debacle in court and in the media concerning the hostile and unprecedented disputation between those holding the sacred offices of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the President of the Court of Appeal.

Now, every concerned citizen of our beloved country will readily admit that all is not well with our country. Indeed, we are in a sea of troubles": no electric power, no water in the taps, no security, broken down infrastructure, near collapse of the education sector, no affordable health care, mass unemployment, poverty and the hydra-headed monster-corruption. These seemingly intractable problems constitute such a deadly mix that the Federal Government is hereby called upon not to add to this perplexity by the removal of fuel subsidy. I respectfully invite government to consider what the devastating impact of such a removal will have on the meager monthly wage of N18,000.00 approved for the workers which amount some States still quibble about. The members of the National Assembly and others with their regular jumbo pay of millions of Naira will not feel the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy, but the quality of life of the lowly paid workers will descend to an intolerable financial abyss. I believe that every citizen has a right to the patrimony and wealth of our beloved country.

I understand that in the State of Texas in the U.S.A. every year, each citizen is given an amount of dollars as part of his legitimate share of the oil revenue in any part of that state. So should we!

Instead of the removal of fuel subsidy, all marketers should be more heavily taxed; oil marketers must not be paid more than what is legitimately due to them; fuel subsidy should not be paid to those not entitled to it; the menace of illegal bunkering should be tackled; corruption in the oil industry should be eliminated and above all, there should be more transparency in the production and sale of crude oil. Such a sanitized and de-contaminated regime will yield unquantifiable additional revenue for all of us to enjoy.

Government authorities are therefore hereby urged not to take any action that will further incense and enrage the people. Such a situation will pose a colossal threat to the Rule of Law and

Government is duty bound to avoid such a national calamity. The situation in the polity is explosive enough. May God help us. Amen.

In addition to the Hon. Justice Ayorinde's committment to the Rule of Law, His Lordship was also committed to the Anglican Church and served as Chancellor, Ibadan Anglican Communion. He was devoted to his family - nuclear and extended. His beloved wife - Mrs. Christianah Adetokunbo Amole (his pet name for her was "Toks”), his children (three of whom are lawyers) and grandchildren enjoyed an affectionate relationship with him.

I warmly salute the entire family, and I crave forgiveness for the partiality of offering special commiseration to my learned friend of the silk - Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN. I know that His Lordship was particularly proud of his son's elevation to the prestigious rank of SAN in September 2005. All the other children have also achieved success in their respective disciplines and endeavours thereby bringing joy and pride to their illustrious parents. I congratulate them.

It remains for me to quote 2 Tim 4:7-8 on behalf of His Lordship who could have said:­

7) “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing".

"Resquiescat in pace".

May the family be comforted;

May the legal profession be comforted;

May God rescue Nigeria from the jaws of fuel subsidy removal and catastrophe. Amen.

I wish you all a joyous Christmas and a glorious Year 2012

"Deo Volanten”

I thank you all for your attention.

Chief Folake Solanke, SAN, delivered this speech at the valedictory court session in honour of a former Chief Judge of Oyo State, late Honourable Timothy Adebayo Adediran Ayorinde at the High Court No. 1, Ring Road, Ibadan, last Wednesday.