By Abdulrasheed Ibrahim
In every two years in NBA politics, there is usually out and in. One President out and another President in. With the exit of Mr. Y.C. Maikyau, SAN from the NBA Presidency and the coming in of Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN into the NBA Presidency, another journey has just begun. For quite some time now there has been an unpleasant narrative about the NBA particularly when it comes to the issue of power or power play. If you are a lawyer and a quite observer of what goes on in NBA politics, you will remember vividly the words “Sole Administrator” which became more prominent under the leadership of Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN (PUSAN) as the NBA President. Dr. (now Professor) Foluke Dada, one of the Vice Presidents under PUSAN accused him of turning the office of the NBA President into that of Sole Administrator by doing everything alone without carrying other National officers along. Under the leadership of Mr. Olumide Akpata as NBA President, there was a similar happening at the tail end of the tenure as there was a split between Mrs. Joyce Oduha, who was then the General Secretary on the one side and the other National Officers on the other side.
The NBA historians will not forget easily the I WILL NOT PAY episode under the out gone leadership of Mr. Y. C Maikyau, SAN and his National Officers. But under his regime, the National Treasurer, Caroline Ladidi Ante-Bishop later appeared to be “one lady squad” petitioning the Attorney General of the Federation as the Chairman of General Council of the Bar (GCB) as well as the Chairman of the Body of Benchers complaining that her office was usurped and marginalised by the NBA President. But this notwithstanding the issue was eventually settled with the award of service to Bishop by Maikyau at the inauguration of the new NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN).
One continues to be baffled by this incessant occurrence in the Nigerian Bar Association which prides itself as promoting the rule of law and which ought to be so guided when there is a constitution in place that stipulates the functions and the duties of every National officer. If every officer adheres strictly to the functions and duties assigns to him or her, there will hardly be any conflict, but where a particular officer goes beyond his or her limit and wants to lord it over the other ,there will always be conflict and misunderstanding. This is one of the areas where the new NBA President and his team will have to get it right. The fact that the out gone General Secretary has called for the review of the powers of the NBA President is a clear indication that the office of the NBA President has been turned to the like of an Empire under the control of an Emperor which in my opinion ought not to be in an association being governed by a written constitution. Since we are now having for the first time to the best of my knowledge an NBA executive committee of the National Officers that is gender-balance with 5 men and 5 women, one does not think this new team should at the end of the day have any reason for failure. This has prompted the question: Will Mazi’s new team change the narrative?
There is this unpleasant narrative about the NBA that it has been compromised and “governmentalised” by being pro-government rather than being proactive and be on the side of the people. According to Dr. Sam Amadi: “Some would say it’s still relevant and strong. Lawyers, anywhere in the world , even in a banana republic, are a strong group because lawyers are central to a lot of things in society .But again, one clear thing was, under the military mostly , there was clarity around what the bar stood for…they stood for the freedom of the people , they stood for the rule of law. It impacted the Supreme Court…Now, the NBA became a status institution , a government institution. In fact , in previous elections, State Governors have financed candidates to emerge. Even in this election, towards the run-up to the election day, there were rumours around support. The presidency had to issue a statement debunking it, that the presidency kind of provided support for somebody. So we are now seeing a routinised, bureaucratised and governmentalised NBA. “Now with the appointment of Dr. Sam Amadi by the new NBA President as the Chairman of The Adjudicature Review Committee (ARC), it will be interesting to see how the Committee will change this unpleasant narrative positively.
Many lawyers have expressed dissatisfaction with the way the issue of NBA stamp is being handled as there are lawyers still lamenting that months after submitting their online applications for the stamps, they are yet to be receipt of same. The lamentations prompted the out gone General Secretary of the association to issue an unreserved apology for such delay. Honestly, one of the failures of leadership in this country including the NBA is that the leaders are not communicating and interacting adequately with the people they governed. It is the duty of leaders to be constant and frequent in communication with the people on what is going on or the efforts they are making in the discharge of their responsibilities. If this is not adequately done and people are put in isolation, it is as if the government or leaders are doing nothing. Since the new President has taken this upon himself and promised to be in charge of the situation and has stated further that:
”I must admit that the members of the National Executive I am honoured to lead do not know it all. Your suggestions, feedbacks, advice, constructive criticism and engagements, will help us serve the Bar better. Please do not hesitate to correct us whenever we err. Feel free to share with us your thoughts that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of our members. We urge you to participate in the affairs of the Bar, its meetings, conferences, and other programmes.”
As an ordinary member of the NBA, I want to suggest to the new President and his new team that the expiring date on the NBA Stamp should be removed as what is the reason and essence of why the expiring date must continue to remain on the stamp that are not promptly delivered to the lawyers. The NBA stamp should not be money making venture for the association but rather a means of identity by lawyers with the association. While every lawyer that pays his annual subscription must be entitled to free certain number of stamps, such lawyer must pay for additional number of stamps he wants from the association. Phasing out the benefit of free stamp completely upon payment of annual subscription will not be proper. I do not buy into the explanation that the printers producing the stamps are bent on increasing the amount they charge for the production of the NBA stamp. In the world of printing, the more you print the less the cost. If a particular printer is insisting on unnecessary increment, another printer must be contacted or engaged for similar assignment. Business must be business! I strongly believe this my suggestion will meet the yearnings and aspirations of the majority members of the NBA.
The lamentations of lawyers still continue every year on what they are being given in return for the sum being paid for the registration of annual NBA conference. Imagine paying heavy sum through your nose for the conference and you ended up being given sponsored tag, pen and jotter and meal ticket for 2 days lunch. No conference bag and no papers delivered at the conference whether in hard copy or soft copy in a flash drive or elsewhere. Go to the social media to see how lawyers are lamenting. Honestly all these must change for better. The NBA that claims to be the largest Bar in Africa must do things to sharpen the interest of the people particularly the lawyers to come another time. But when NBA organises a conference for the members of the legal profession and distributes conference materials like the way typical Nigerian politicians distribute palliatives, then the association will just be creating the impression that it is misleading lawyers to enter the ONE CHANCE BUS just like the way our contemporary capitalist politicians are presently doing to all Nigerians. The Nigerian politicians are living flamboyantly and continue telling Nigerians to be patient and endure hardship and suffering. Can’t they, the Nigerian politicians also live an austere life to show or lead by examples?
When I recently listened to some prominent women in Nigeria addressing issues like the way Hon Justice Amina Augie (retired JSC) talked about what happened when she presided at the Court of Appeal ,Lagos Division; like the way Mrs Ezekwesili was calling for the deregulation of the oil industry as well as the way Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was advising the government on how to get it right, I arrived at a conclusion that since the men folk have seriously disappointed us in this country, there is the need for us to test a woman as the Chief Tenant in the Aso Rock as the President of this country and also by extension, a woman as the President of the NBA probably in the next election. Since men folk are not getting it right, let us also try womenfolk in our midst that have proved to be very upright at the helm of the affairs. This is the reason why I completely agreed with Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal that:
“Equity and vibrant justice, especially gender-wise, should be fortified and demonstrated in Nigerian Bar Association. It is not encouraging that since the inception of the association, only one female, in person of Dame Priscilla Kuye, ascended to the seat of the President from 1991-1992, in a profession that boasts nearly equality. It is quite sad that we have not had a female president of the Bar for over three decades. We cannot demand equity in a progressive society and be regressive, among our ranks. Therefore, more has to be done.”
With the last NBA election, the way women lawyers seriously competed with men lawyers; they showed their strong capacity and strength in the scheme of things in the NBA politics. With the present 5 men and 5 women in the new National Executive Committee of the NBA, the story of the women at the Bar may not be the same again. Their involvement in the NBA election this time around has paid off. Women are showing that they are the mothers of men. The women are now dominating and running the judiciary. With the appointment of a woman, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria and many more women are now occupying the position of Chief Judges in various states of the federation, the women revolution that will sweep away men from power seems to be approaching. If men refuse to live up to expectations as expected, women are on their way to take over. Women lawyers in the last NBA election showed their power of solidarity with themselves and I am very sure this will encourage more women to come out in the future elections. Honestly, we men are seriously in trouble, if care is not taken. The challenge now before the new NBA National Executive Committee led by Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN is to stand by his own words:
“We will do our utmost best to ensure that we fulfil our promises to engender an NBA that places lawyers at the centre of its programmes, prioritizes the welfare and professional development of its members, reinvigorates public confidence in the profession and the Association and that strengthens institutional structures and efficiency .Under our leadership, the NBA shall be vocal and constantly speak up on issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice. The NBA shall constructively engage with the various tiers of governments and other stakeholders by presenting proposals and blueprint for dealing with issues as they arise. The NBA shall maintain its leading role in matters of public interest and engage in ‘Rule of Law’ advocacy.”
While congratulating the new set of NBA leaders and wishing them the best, it also needs to be pointed out that leadership is about service to the led rather than self serving. It is very unfortunate that today even in the larger society people go to power to enrich themselves rather than serving the interest of the people. Whichever way every leader perceives his or her position to be, that is whether to truly serve the people or his own immediate family and friends, the fact still remains that no condition is permanent as every leader will surely become history and whether to be a positive history or a negative history is the choice of individual leader. There is no doubt that the NBA is divided, but it will be the duty and responsibility of the new leadership to bring everybody to the round table for serious mutual discussion. Although there are some of our colleagues that have decided to go their own way to form new Bar Association like the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) which the out gone President was accused of trying to frustrate. I am of the view that while it will be very difficult for anyone to resist the emergence of any new association considering the apparent fundamental right of every citizen to associate with any lawful association as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, this notwithstanding we must always see and respect one another as friends and colleagues called to the same Nigerian Bar rather than see one another as enemies. Whether the Mazi Afam ’s new team will change the NBA’s unpleasant narrative to a pleasant narrative is a question to be answered by the passage of time!
NOTE: Anyone is at liberty to disagree with my above submissions as I will surely appreciate a balanced, fair and objective rebuttal.
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:abdurasheedibrahim362@gmail.com
1st September 2024.
