LESS than three weeks to the 2018 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election, the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) and the Akwa-Cross Lawyers’ Forum have said it is the South East’s turn to produce the next NBA president through the EBF.
The EBF is one of the foremost regional fora recognised by the NBA constitution, while the Akwa-Cross lawyers’ Forum, are made up of lawyers of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states’ extraction.
They met last weekend in Enugu and agreed that it is not the turn of any lawyer from the Akwa Cross axis to contest the NBA Presidency in the forthcoming elections
Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), one of the contestants in the election is from the Ikot Ekpene branch of the NBA in Akwa Ibom State. He has maintained that he is not a member of the EBF.
Speaking to participants at the just concluded meeting of the EBF in Enugu, the immediate past Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Cross River State, Mr. Attah Ochinke said: “All NBA branches in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states are firmly standing on the adoptions made by the EBF for the forthcoming elections.
“This is universal suffrage and we cannot stop anybody from filing forms to contest elections, but we can make sure that such people don’t win the elections. This time around, it is the turn of the South East to produce the next president of the NBA from the EBF family. We do not want the indiscipline of one person to compromise the unity in the EBF.
“We need to see this platform beyond the unity of lawyers from the EBF family. Now that the unity of Nigeria is being renegotiated, EBF remains the only viable platform for us to stand on.
“To Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, I say do not build and scatter. One of the conspicuous items on his profile is that he was the founding father of the EBF. When next this presidency comes to the East, we will respect him, but we don’t want him to take steps that will make him loose that respect,” Ochinke said.
In his address, Chairman of Akwa Cross lawyers’ Forum, Chief Mba Ukweni (SAN) said he adopted Ochinke’s submissions.
Ukweni said: “Akwa Ibom and Cross River states are part of the EBF and are bound by the decisions of the Forum, including the adoption of candidates for this election.
“This is not the first time we are having a situation like this; we had always had a dissension. Ojukwu faced that but what we need is a firm and purposeful leadership that will crush such dissension. If we do not get it right in this election, We will have a very big crack in the EBF”.
Former Enugu State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Tony Ani (SAN) said the EBF was revived in Enugu in 2003 to provide a veritable platform for its members to effectively participate in national discourse and welfare of its members.
He said: “Up till now, nobody has faulted the adoption of Chief Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) for the position of NBA President in the forthcoming election. And he has to be delivered by the forum and its members. If he loses this election, that will be the end of the EBF,” Ani said
Giving the history of adoption in NBA politics to buttress EBF’s position, former General Secretary of the NBA, Mr. Ibrahim Eddy Mark, said: “After the 1992 imbroglio that made NBA go into comatose. We as branch Chairmen and Secretaries at that time converged on Ikeja under the twin invitation of Yola and Ikeja Branches of the NBA in 1996.
“We formed the committee of Chairmen and Secretaries and made Chief Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo (SAN) and Richard Ahonarougho of Ilorin and Ikeja branch respectively, as Co-ordinating Chairman and Secretary.
“We went round the country, holding meetings from Port Harcourt, Owerri, Enugu, Uyo, Ibadan, Yola, Ilorin, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Onitsha, Warri.
“We then held a preliminary conference in Jos in 1997, where the conference by a resolution gave us the mandate to do all that is needful to bring the NBA back to life. We continued holding meetings thereafter in branches.
“In one of the meetings in Onitsha, we agreed on the rotation of NBA Presidency but that it should not be included in the constitution and that when it has gone sufficiently round we can discard it
“In 1998 we held a delegate conference in Abuja and elected T.J.O. Okpoko (SAN) as President.
“The next election was for 2000 and it was agreed that the Presidency should go to Eastern Nigeria.
“Wole Olanipekun, who was from the West, was prevailed upon to remove his name from the ballot and he did. So, O.C.J. Okocha (SAN) and Nnaemeka Emeh of Port Harcourt and Aba branches respectively contested. Okocha (SAN) was the adopted candidate of Eastern Nigeria, but Emeh refused to step down and lost at the election
“The next zone was South West in 2002. Wole Olanipekun was the adopted candidate, but a former General Secretary of NBA from Abeokuta branch, Onakoya, refused to step down and he lost to Wole at the election held in Ibadan.
“In 2004 it was the turn of the North. Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), J.B. Daudu (SAN) and A.B. Mahmoud (SAN) were the candidates and the conference of Northern lawyer’s then could not arrive at a chosen candidate, rather, it passed a resolution allowing all the candidates to present themselves and Chief Bayo won that election.
“In 2006 it was the turn of the East and Prof. Ojukwu was the Governor of EBF then. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) was adopted by the East as against Chris Uche (SAN). Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) won the election
“ In 2008 it came back to South West, they adopted Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who was returned unopposed. Upon that adoption Dele Adesina (SAN) stepped down for him.
“In 2010 when it came back to the North, J.B.Daudu (SAN) was adopted as against Chief J.K.Gadzama (SAN), J.B. won at Ibadan delegates conference.
“In 2012 it came back to the East and Chief Okey Wali (SAN) was adopted against Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), who refused to abide by the adoption and OkeyWali (SAN) won the election.
“It went back to South West in 2014. By then MidWest Bar Forum was formed as part of the West, South West could not agree on who to adopt and presented three candidates for the election: Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Mrs Funke Adekoya (SAN) and Pastor Dele Adesina (SAN), but Midwest adopted Austin Alegeh (SAN), who won the election.
“It came back to the North in 2016. Arewa Lawyers Forum had division within the Chairman’s camp, adopting Chief J-K Gadzama (SAN) and the Secretary’s Camp adopted A.B. Mahmud (SAN) and A. B. Mahmud SAN won.
“ Interestingly, the East had always shared its slot between South East and South South. That is why after OCJ Okocha (SAN) they brought Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) then Okey Wali (SAN) and have now adopted Chief Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) to keep to tradition. OCJ and Okey Wali are South South axis while Olisa and Obi Okafor (SAN) are South East axis.
“This shows that it is the turn of South East axis to produce the next NBA President from that zone. People, who complain of this adoption or zoning, forget the fact that the Federal Character Commission was established to do what we are doing in the NBA now.
“You must be prepared to get the nod from your zone as a good politician and for me if you think you want to opt out of the adoption thing say so to them to indicate that you are not bound by their decision.
“I did that when I was running for office as General Secretary of NBA, I refused to identify with any region and that assisted me to win. I have tried to do a historical excursion as to the beginning and power of adoption. To me there must be honour in what we do,” Eddy Mark stated
