Emmanuel Ukudolo I Thursday, June 8, 2023
LEKKI, Lagos, Nigeria – It is once again time for members of the legal profession to elect leadership. But what will be the trend this time around? Will it as usual take the pattern that characterizes national elections, that involve waste of resources in millions, sometimes in billions, while the majority is confronted with the challenges of survival and inability to earn a decent living? How about the syndrome of self-entitlement(emilokan)? Has the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA lost focus in terms of vision and setting agenda for the nation?
These are some of the issues that were thrown up at the debate put together by Eti-Osa Lawyers Forum on ‘Administration of NBA branches, between politics and professionalism’ ahead of the NBA Lagos election, moderated by Olawale Ajia.
It was an opportunity for the three-candidates vying to lead the NBA in Lagos to unveil their personality and address these issues that bother on politicization of the NBA in lieu of professionalism and especially welfare of members, the foundation on which the NBA stands. The three candidates vying for the chairmanship slot that spoke at the event were Adebola Lemo, Bisi Makonjuola and Mayowa Afolabi.
Ms. Esther Ifeoma Jimoh, Principal, Estelle Attorneys and Legal Consult showed up for the Vice Chairmanship slot. Other candidates, most of whom showed up on their own as the Chairman of the forum, MMA Sanni said, when they heard of the event are Dickson Obairi, for Social Secretary, Omoniyi Onabule and Bayo Ogunsanya both for Publicity Secretary. Others include Majemite M., Kelechukwu Uzorka, Legal Partner, K&C Partners.
The focus was however on the three chairmanship candidates who sponsored the event. They all canvassed for professionalism and integrity and to face the election with the mindset of arguing within the court but remaining friends outside the courtroom and urge their followers to eschew enmity since there is life after the elections.
Owolabi canvassed on the need for the NBA to take a look at the succession plan of the Olu Ibadan, where who will take over after the man in power is already known without any rancour and for smooth administration of the NBA.
While pledging to enthrone the culture of excellence, Owolabi called on lawyers, who are the electorates to take a curious look at all the candidates and their antecedents when it comes to choosing who leads the NBA Lagos.
“ In choosing who leads the NBA, look at all of us, take a look at our antecedents and interrogate what we say in choosing who leads the NBA”, he advised.
Obairi spoke on the need to march the actions of NBA leadership with their campaign promises and adequate follow ups, while Ogunsanya called on leadership to lead by example, stressing that there is too much noise about NBA elections unlike what you find among other professional bodies where elections go on without rancour and less financial drain on resources that could have been invested in the welfare of members.
Chairman of the Eti-Osa Lawyers Forum, MMA Sanni also inaugurated two committees during the meeting, the CLA committee headed by Clifford Attach and Grace Ajayi as Secretary and the Welfare Committee.
