By Abdulrasheed Ibrahim
When the rigorous campaigns for the just concluded 2024 NBA election of National officers was running to an end, I expressed the view that : “NBA politics is a replica of the conventional politics in Nigeria. I hope by the time this week runs out, the various platforms and our individual’s phones will surely go on recess by the time the winners are eventually announced. For now the endorsements are still going on here and there. To me , I AM A FRIEND OF ALL ,ENEMY OF NONE. My experience in recent time is making me to give up on both Bar and Nigerian politics but this notwithstanding I continue to pray for the best set of people to emerge because the Bar and Nigerian politicians if care is not taken are capable of making you to develop hypertension particularly when you think about how rich this country is but unfortunately Nigerians are still suffering in the hands of leaders that have refused to get it right!”
The 2024 election keenly contested has been won and lost with a new set of NBA leaders emerged as declared by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA). MAZI AFAM OSIGWE (SAN) emerged PRESIDENT with 20435 votes, Tobenna Erojikwe got 10,998 while Chukwuka Ikwuazon (SAN) got 9,018. SABASTINE ANYIA emerged 1st VICE PRESIDENT with 12114 votes, Bartholomew Aguegbodo got 6864, Williams Soseipriye got 5718, Promise Iwezor got 5365, Reginald Ugwuadu got 3261 while Gerald Abonyi got 3227.BOLATUNMI ANIMASHAUN emerged 2nd VICE PRESIDENT with 26534 votes while Pius Oiwoh got 11121. ZAINAB GARBA emerged 3rd VICE PRESIDENT with 23550 votes while Michael Olorunmola got 13897. MOBOLAJI OJIBARA emerged GENERAL SECRETARY with 25713 votes while Abdulwasiu Alfa got 11730. HENRY EHI emerged ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY with 28552 votes while Oluwaseun Aka got 8317. BLESSING UDOFA-POROMON emerged TREASURER with 17998 votes, Mbamala Chukwuemeka got 9852 while Caroline Obi got 9442. NYADA AUTA emerged WELFARE SECRETARY with 18369 votes, Oaikhena Osagie got 12855 while Ernest Uwanaka got 5736. BRIDGET EDOKWE emerged PUBLICITY SECRETARY with 19542 votes, Charles Ajiboye got 10989 while Ferdinand Naza got 7667. EBIERE EKPESE emerged ASSISTANT PUBLICITY SECRETARY with 26955 votes while Lawrence Ayewa got 9690. With this result, the new National Officers of the NBA for another two years commencing from August 2024 to August 2026 are now on the ground to be sworn in next month during the NBA Annual General Conference .
One of the things that became clearer and made the race very interesting this time around was that our female colleagues (women lawyers) greatly shown their power of solidarity. Those male candidates that engaged the female candidates did not find the electoral battle easy as running against female candidates was a straight victory for the female lawyers courtesy of women lawyers’ solidarity which really changed the narrative. Politics of endorsement also played a significant role in this election as while it worked in favour of some candidates, it did not work in favour of some candidates. I have expressed the view in the past that adopting or endorsing candidates as being done in NBA being a professional body is very unnecessary as it is liable to breed hatred rather than love if we must face the reality. The endorsement as being done is likely to breed the attitude of desire to take the “Pound of Flesh” (apology to Williams Shakespeare’ “Merchant of Venice” ) particularly for those that do not possess the political shock absolver because in NBA politics as in the conventional politics, there are lot of back stabbing, betrayal, conspiracy, disappointment, greed for power and godfatherism or if you like call it Mafia or to use the Aso Rock language of “The Cabal” . Some may not see any problem with all these because that is what politics is all about. In politics,you will be surprised and shocked that you may likely be the first victim of the very person you supported with all you have to get him into office as power corrupts, corrupts absolutely. It is always better if the politicians are truly interested in serving the interest of the people and not the other way round.
When I expressed my above position on endorsement on some lawyers’ platforms, a colleague who shares my thought responded as follow: “It’s even more disturbing with all sorts of endorsements coming from people. To endorse is tantamount to attempt to unduly influence the voters .In future we must ban any kind of endorsements designed to take away from the voters the constitutional right to choose as they may deem fit.”
The endorsement as being done by some groups clearly shows it is intended to take away that constitutional right of a voter or an individual to decide on his own who he wants to vote for. We saw a situation where a particular group resolved to adopt or endorse some particular candidates and all the members of that particular group were instructed to go the same way without considering the right of individual member to make personal choice. There are lawyers condemning their colleagues for not voting for the candidates endorsed or adopted by their group and calling them all sorts of names. There were even a situation where some lawyers said that they had defected from one side to another side in view of their group’s adoption or endorsement of some candidates as if we have political parties in NBA just like the way some politicians would say they are defecting say from APC to the PDP or the other way round.
If we do not try to ban or regulate the endorsements during campaigns, the NBA will soon go the way of JUSUN or some other associations or unions where during their campaigns you see some candidates grouping themselves into different teams tagging themselves “Winning Team” or “Salvation Team” to engage in elections. The series of endorsements of different candidates during the campaigns for the last NBA election were too overwhelming even more overwhelming than those of the previous elections. If endorsement and adoption is not proper checked and regulated now, that of the next election in 2026 may be the father of them all. Since ours is professional association, I suggest that the endorsement in future elections should be properly regulated.
The reason why some National Officers find it difficult sometimes to get along when they eventually assume office is that they often carry that their political rivalry or affiliation into the offices and you eventually start hearing that one officer is marginalizing or taking over the functions of another officer when you have a constitution that clearly states the duties and functions of every National officer.
When you have a President that is not political matured, he may find it difficult getting along with some officers in his regime as he may continue to hold the grudge that those officers supported his rival during the Presidential race. This is an area in which the newly elected National Officers will have to get it right if they really want to succeed in the steering the affairs of the Association. Enough is enough of the rumbling often occasioned among the National Officers as they must be ready to serve the generality of lawyers that voted them and entrusted them with the power to lead the association.
The election having come and gone, the burden is now on those that won and lost to embrace one another in the spirit of sportsmanship as 2026 is another election year. There are lot of lessons to be learnt in this just concluded election for those that lost. Mazi Afam Osigwe,SAN the President-elect in 2018 attempted to run for the President of NBA the same year I attempted to run for the National Publicity Secretary but were among those disqualified based on the discriminatory provisions in the NBA constitution then which was later removed by virtue of amendment.I remember vividly that Mr. Sabastine Anyia who is now the 1st Vice President elect contested on two occasions for National officer but he lost. Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara , who is now the General Secretary elect some years back also contested for the same position but he lost then. Those that lost need to congratulate those that won and be patient till another time if they are still interested in the race. The President elect has made an impressive declaration after the announcement of the results. According to him :
“The outcome of the NBA 2024 National Officers Election is a testament to our collective commitment to advancing the cause of justice , upholding the rule of law and fostering a vibrant and inclusive legal community .I extend my sincere appreciation to my colleagues and friends , Chukwuka Ikwuazom , SAN and Tobenna Erijiokwe, Esq., for their dedication to our professional and democratic process. My administration will be in inclusive ,ensuring that every voice is heard and every concern is addressed. We will work tirelessly to enhance the welfare of our members, uphold the dignity of our profession, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of our society.”
With this assertion, one hopes and prays this new set of NBA leaders will get it right as there are issues that many lawyers are still worried about that ought to have long been resolved. For instance , I recently put it as follows somewhere else that : “Despite the fact the NBA has suspended the physical submission to the branches of application forms for stamp and seal after payment of the practicing fee , you are expected to apply online to get the stamp, but unfortunately many of our colleagues are still complaining of not being in receipt of such stamps months after the submission of the online applications. This unnecessary delay is not good enough in this age of modern technology”. It is worrisome that if a stamp that will expire within a year is not delivered within a reasonable time, that will make nonsense of what that stamp is meant for. Why must the NBA stamp be made to even expire? The new NBA leaders need to look beyond the financial gain being made from the stamp but should be concerned about the prompt delivery of its after it has been applied for.
The ECNBA that conducted the election must be commended for a job well done as I find it very difficult to fault the process. The exercise was very impressive. One of the way NBA can truly contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the country is to begin the clamour for the country’s Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the political parties to embrace the electronic voting in the selection of the parties’ flag bearers and thereafter for the general elections to checkmate the electoral fraud that has become part of the electoral system in this country. If the country and its political system can honestly embrace rotational presidency as being done in the NBA that will go a long way to promote unity and the sense of belonging in the country. But this notwithstanding the burden is still on lawyers to show the proper way of doing the right for the people to learn from. The concept of leadership needs to be re-define is this country as it should not be about rhetoric or phonetic but about selfless services to the people.It should not be about money bag but about brilliance, vision and patriotism.
NOTE: Anyone is at liberty to disagree with my above submissions as I will surely appreciate a balanced, fair and objective rebuttal. 08055476823, 0816468375: [email protected]
