By Kayode Adeoti
Today, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, Issa Manzuma can boldly declare like Julius Caesar did in his letter to the Roman Senate following victory in a war against Pharnaces II of Pontus saying, Veni vedi vici, which means, ‘I came, I saw, I conquered’.
In less than 50 days, Manzuma will go the way of his predecessors; he may not have reigned for thousand years, but the testimony on the lips of legal practitioners in the state attest to the fact that he has made ineffaceable impacts within two years in office as the helmsman of the noble body.
Manzuma’s emergence as the NBA chairman on 26th January, 2016 has been described as stroke of fate. It is not unconnected with the way he clinched the position. Recall that Manzuma had at the initial stage of the contest shown interest in the chairmanship seat but backed out when he could not withstand the heat generated by the keen contest by his co-contenders- Muhammed Idowu Akande, Akin Akintoye II and Gani Bello. It took intervention of Joseph Bamigboye SAN and other notable elders in the Bar, who reportedly prevailed on trio to step down and give Manzuma a chance. Consequently, he became a consensus candidate.
He is the 20th NBA chairman the Ilorin Bar will produce since its inception in 1967. The chairman is expected to vacate office soon. In a recent chat with the electoral chairman of the NBA, Omotosho Yaqub, he disclosed that fresh election that will usher in a new administration will be conducted next month though the date is yet to be fixed.
The chairman, since assuming office has made concerted efforts towards efficient and effective management of the association’s affairs. It was reliably gathered that his tenure inspired high dose of civility, etiquette and other moral virtues among members.
It is note worthy that he prioritised the Bar’s monthly meetings, seminars and lectures on different topics bordering on courtroom etiquette among others.
According to some senior lawyers in the state, the unity and peace Manzuma brought to the Bar is the greatest achievement of his administration. The ‘game changer’ as he is fondly called among young lawyers, mended cracked walls within the association. Manzuma was said to have settled the alleged rift between his immediate past predecessors, Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun and Idris Mobolaji Ojibara respectively. The two senior members of the Bar as a result have sheathed their swords.
The completion of the Bar centre is also a great credit to his administration, though the foundation of the building was laid by Joseph Bamigboye SAN as chairman of the association in 2002. However, successive administration could not bring the project to reality until Manzuma came on board. The building was commissioned by the Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed during the NBA National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in 2018.
Another stunning achievement his administration recorded is the successful hosting of the NEC meeting. During the event, the city of Ilorin witnessed unprecedented number of legal practitioners who came from across the country.
The current chairman of the Young Lawyers Forum (YLF), Dauda Olayinka Jimoh in his testimony, saluted Manzuma’s leadership, acumen selfless service and sacrifices to lift the legal body to higher pedestal, adding that his achievements are unmatched.
He said, “Manzuma led-administration has achieved a great deal, the completion and the commissioning of the Bar secretariat is to his records. He has demonstrated sagacity in his leadership capacity. He is a game changer. Before now, there was serious crisis in the Ilorin Bar that almost consumed it. He settled the issues and brought all warring parties together. Similarly, his relationship with YLF is very cordial, he’s very supportive, but he is yet to fulfil his promise of providing us an office at the secretariat.
“History will not forget his purposely leadership. My worry is just on who will take over from him and continue from where he stopped. We pray for good leadership.
Taye Oniyide, a renowned legal practitioner in the state also posited that “Major achievements Manzuma will always be remembered for is the renovation of Bar centre. It is a good thing as we now have conducive and tranquil environment to hold meetings. When it comes to unifying the Bar, he has done his part because he mended broken relationships. He has starling leadership and managerial qualities,” Oniyide asserted.
Similarly, a one-time NBA chairman of Ilorin branch, Salman Jawondo said “Manzuma has performed wonderfully well; he served as a unifying factor for the Bar. He took the Bar building from a deplorable state to an enviable one. We can always remember him for good, he has done his part.
His Profile
Manzuma had his first degree in law from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1992. He attended Nigeria Law Sschool that same year and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1993. Afterwards, he served in Enugu, Enugu State in 1994. He however joined J.S Bamigboye & Co. in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital for his pupilage in 1994. He left his principal in 1997 to establish his own law firm; Issa Mazuma & Co. also in Ilorin.<%
