In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu revealed that without strict adherence to the rule of law no democracy in the world can thrive.

Ekweremadu stated this at a dinner organised by the International Law Institute (ILI), Washington DC, for its alumni in Nigeria.

He also said that there is no nation that could see any tangible development without taking into cognisance the rule of law.

He said: “Democracy becomes gravely imperiled if the powers of the judiciary to enforce compliance with the rule of law are subjected to legal, extra-legal, and sociological limitations.

“Our task as an emerging democracy is to continue to build a society where government agencies as well as individuals and private entities must be subjected to and accountable under the law.

“We must ensure that the process by which laws are enacted, administered, and enforced is accessible, fair and efficient.

“We must ensure that justice is delivered according to established laws, timely, competently, ethically and independently.

“I hold the opinion and fervently so that the principle of the rule of law is at the heart of the survival of democracy.

“A democracy without the rule of law is like salt that has lost its saltiness.”

The Senator noted that the World Bank had indicated that economic growth, political modernization, protection of human rights and other worthy objectives are dependent on the rule of law.

He also noted that the developing nations that are in urgent need of development lacked the rule of law while stating that the absence of strong democratic institutions, lack of independence of the judiciary and political instability is to blame for this.