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Ministers: Nothing wrong with recycling ex-office holders- Adesina

Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, was guest on Kakaaki, a program of Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday, October 1.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

First of all, let’s look at the President’s October 1 broadcast. What do you make of it?

We must recognise that it is a National Day broadcast, and he started by reviewing the state of the polity, particularly our march towards nationhood 55 years after independence. Are we a nation yet? Are we just a conglomeration of ethnic nationalities? I think on a day like this, that is the most important thing, all the others are ancillary, though important. It was an efficient broadcast, it may be short but it touched a number of crucial issues.

One issue that has been generating lots of reactions is the ministerial list. The President did promise sometime in July that he was going to name his ministers in September. But what we saw was a submission of ministerial list to the National Assembly.

We also need to mind the process and the procedure; Our federal lawmakers would be the first people to kick if the President just reeled out the names of the ministers and their portfolios. That would not be in order. What he does is to nominate and send to the Senate and after clearance, the ministers begin to work. At any given time, procedure must be followed.

Part of the broadcast that a lot of people would have loved to hear more from the President is the issue of national unity and inclusiveness in running the affairs of state. It appears that the President did not dwell on that and a lot of people looking at Nigeria believe that national unity and inclusiveness appear to be quite elusive. One would have expected the President to reassure the country that Nigeria stays as one and this is what I am going to do so that everyone has a sense of belonging.

Well, let me read this paragraph if you will permit, the President says here, “We have all the attributes of a great nation, we are not there yet because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullness is the unity of purpose .This would have enabled us to achieve not only more orderly political evolution and integration, but also, continuity and economic progress. Countries far less endowed have made greater coherence and unity of purpose.” So, he touched on what you said.

Yes, he touched on it, but what I mean is that he should have dwelled on it, talking about Nigeria at 55.

You should also realize that he is President, and he should not be dwelling on just challenges, rather he should be working to achieve solutions , which is quite better.

There are some agitations that the President seems to favour some parts of the country, so the eagerness to see who and who will make the ministerial list…

He also said that order is better than speed. What Nigerians want in these appointments appears to be speed, so that they can calculate how many are from the North, South, East and West, and all that. But we will get there, that is what the President is saying.

The President wants to manage the country’s resources and he didn’t make any statement about the economy or the real sector, why is this so?

I think we are forgetting that it is a National Day broadcast. It is about Nigeria, our people, the way we have lived together. What are the challenges and how are the challenges being surmounted? All those other things cannot necessarily come into a National Day broadcast, that is what I feel.

How long shall Nigerians wait for the President to say something on the economic direction?

The economic direction is not an opinion of one man but an aggregation of what a team feels and what they have agreed upon. That team is unfolding, we have a list of proposed ministers, that list has not been unfolded and when they are approved with their portfolios , they are the ones that will articulate the economic direction. What if the President as one man has said ,this is the direction and the team comes and feels different?

Not as one man, because he has said that he has been in consultation with the Vice President and some other individual concerning solutions to our problems . Based on that statement, Nigerians are expecting that …

That would still not amount to an economic direction.

Let us talk about some things. It was reported that the President says that his relationship with the Senate president would depend on the outcome of the Code of Conduct trial. Could you confirm that ?

I was at a session in New York when the President was granting that interview to Sahara TV and he said the relationship between them is cordial. The interviewer asked if they communicate and he said , yes, many times. There were some appointments that he couldn’t have made without writing the Senate president. He was further asked what would be the relationship in the light of the code of conduct tribunal trial that is going on, and he said, “Yes, I have to wait for that process to end and that would determine the relationship,” which I think is just right.

Okay, I think that you need to break it down further, when he said that he needs to wait for the process before the relationship becomes cordial. Does it mean, it is not cordial right now?

There is separation of powers between the executive and legislature…

The President and Senate president are from the same party and they need to have a very cordial working relationship for the President to succeed.

Is there an indication that the relationship is not cordial?

From the statement of the President that he is awaiting the outcome of the trial, it has pitched him on a particular level… it seems the President is saying that the Senate president should not come close to me pending when the trial is over, to know whether you are clean enough or not.

What the President meant was that he was not going to interfere in any way and the process must play out. He was emphatic about that and of course if the process finishes, whichever way it goes, it determines the relationship between the two individuals. For a government that pays high premium on transparency and accountability, it is very important that whoever is in a top decision must be seen to be accountable to the people.

One would also ask if the President is conscious of the assumption of innocence until proven guilty.

In all he has said, there is nowhere that assumption has been breached, No way and nowhere that it has been breached. He says that the Senate president is innocent for now and when the process ends, they continue the relationship.

Okay now, let’s look at the ministerial list that was sent (September 30). We understand from what is in the news that just a few names were sent to the Senate, can you confirm this? And when would the rest be sent?

The President himself was clear about that, he said the first batch but nobody knows how many is in the batch

I am sure that you know…

(laughs) … No…No…, you know, you are a news person and you can’t depend on everything you hear. It has been addressed to the Senate president. The list is there, he will unfold it officially. Nobody can say precisely how many. You said a few; you can’t be sure because the Senate president has not unfolded it.

How many people are in the batch?

A: Well, it depends on the President. There are certain prerogatives that the President has. Ministers are one of them. He has said that this is the first batch, I think that we should wait and see who are those in the first batch and after that we know how many remains, because the constitution already states that there must be a minister in each of the states. We have 36 states in the country, so when the list is unfolded, we know how many remains.

You have just returned from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, we heard that a lot of things happened there, like missing meetings that the President was supposed to attend.

Now, let me talk about the supposedly missed meeting. The truth is that, you don’t miss meetings that you are not scheduled to attend, That is just the truth. If you are not scheduled for a meeting, can you miss it? No.

Was Nigeria not scheduled for the meeting?

No, Nigeria was not scheduled to be at that meeting. That is the truth.

O’Brien of the UN was reported as saying that he was quite disappointed that Nigeria was not at that meeting.

A: We have a Permanent representative at the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu. The invitations Nigeria received are seven pages in all. I have them. You won’t see that meeting in any of the invitations that we got. Nigeria was not invited to that meeting and not scheduled to be there. With the passion that our President has on the Boko Haram, do you think that he will receive an invitation to a meeting that will discuss that issue and he will not be there? The truth is that Nigeria was not invited. We have said it and even the President has said in an interview before leaving New York and I guess that should rest the matter. What is happening, as far as I am concerned is storm in a teacup. A lot of people just want to find faults unnecessarily. Nigeria was not invited to that meeting, if she had been invited , she would have been there.

Secondly, it was a meeting on Boko Haram and insurgency. There were two high levels meetings within the General Assembly days and Nigeria was at those meetings. It simply shows that she was not invited to the earlier one. Let me make this statement: it’s like Nigerians have been lied to so much that they find it difficult to now believe the truth. And the truth is that Nigeria was not invited to that meeting.

Even if the President was not invited, was the Nigerian delegation aware of that meeting?

A: How could the Nigerian delegation be aware, when it was not scheduled? I have told you that every meeting that Nigeria was scheduled to attend, I have the list here and that meeting was not there. Nigeria was not scheduled for the meeting.

What would have informed the President’s desire to want to become the Minister of Petroleum, when he is talking about reforming the NNPC, making it transparent? Does he not trust anyone or believe that there are capable people who can be trusted to manage this ministry properly?

I think the question, we will ask ourselves is: What would the President be bringing to the table, if he is going to supervise the petroleum ministry? He has been Minister of Petroleum about 32 years ago. That is a lot of experience. Those were years that things were done fairly properly in this country.

A lot of people will say that things have changed over the years and lots of structures have also changed and those days may have gone….

But there are things that never change in life. These include integrity, transparency, truth and responsibility. Those things never change and those are the things the President would bring to bear.

In the newspaper review this morning, it was reported that 21 names made the ministerial list. Now, based on the constitution, a minister must be selected from every state. So, if the President wants to supervise the ministry of petroleum resources, how will this work out eventually? Does this mean that a particular state will have two slots?

The constitutional requirement you quoted talks about the minimum , it states that there must be 36 number of ministers, at least one from each state. We have lived in this country where we had 46, 48 ministers and all that. That already shows you that 36 is the minimum requirement but this administration is one that wants to cut cost. We don’t expect that it would have a ballooned number of ministers.

What would you say to Nigerians out there, who think that perhaps if some institutions are working, talking of EFCC, ICPC and some other regulatory and enforcement agencies, we won’t be talking about recycling of ministers or minister of petroleum in the person of President Muhammadu Buhari.

What is wrong with recycling if that person has something he is bringing to the table? Recycling would be wrong if that person is adding no value. But if he is adding value, what is wrong with recycling? I tell you that this is one appointment, if you can call it so, that will bring a lot of value to that ministry.

You said earlier that the President is bringing in honour, integrity, truth all those virtues into the ministry’s package. And the President has taken over three months to appoint ministers. I wonder, has he not found a Nigerian with all these qualities to run that office? We have seen in this country, where a former president oversaw this sector and there was not much difference.

Don’t forget that the buck stops at the President’s table. At the end of his administration, it is going to be called the Buhari administration and not the name of any minister. Therefore, it is very important that what the President feels would make a difference in the country is what he does. At the end of the day, that administration would be rated with his name and not any other name.

The last words from you Mr. Adesina before you go

Well, I will just like to say that Nigerians trusted this President, they elected him into office, let them continue to maintain that trust, and at the end of the day, they will not be disappointed.

October 2, 2015
Unsung heroes of independence

As the country marks her 55th independence anniversary, MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reviews the record of the unsung heroes who fought for independence and suggests how to immortalise them.

NIGERIA’S independence was not won on a platter of gold. Some nationalists paid the prize before the country got independence from Britain on October 1, 1960. While some of the players have been honoured, with monuments named after them, others are hardly mentioned. Though their contribution to liberate the country remains indelible, the heroes ought to be duly recognized, because of their passion.

At the posthumous centenary birthday of one of the heroes, Adelabu Adegoke, last month, there were renewed calls for the immortalization of the unsung heroes. Except for the present government, the country had been under military and conservative administrations. But, with the progressives now on the saddle, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigerians expect a change and fair deal for the departed heroes.

At the event, speaker after speaker said the immortalisation of the heroes would address the social inequalities and prejudices in the society. For instance, the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Adelabu Adegoke Centenary Posthumous Birthday, Oloye Lekan Alabi, said President Muhammadu Buhari must review the records of the heroes who fought to ensure that Nigeria got independence.

He said heroes like Adelabu and others who struggled to lay the foundation of Nigeria deserve something better. He said it help to cement the unity of the country. He added: “Naming road after the late nationalist would go a long way in immortalising him.’’

Alabi noted that the Adelabu family decided to celebrate their hero because his unprecedented public records, which may go into oblivion, just like those of some of his contemporaries.

The unsung heroes include:

Adelabu

Adelabu was a strong and vocal politician from Ibadan; he was fierce and outspoken in his days. He made remarkable impact in the struggle for independence. He won a seat in the Western Regional House of Assembly and served as Minister of Social Services and Mineral Resources as a member of the House of Representatives. He coined the word penkelemesi, meaning “peculiar mess.”

He was a member of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. He contributed to the socio-political development of Nigeria. He struggled for the independence, but he never lived to witness the attainment of that status. In the parliament and in the Council of Ministers, his ideas gave birth to productive agricultural policies, especially the River Basin Development, Mass Literacy Scheme and the indigenization policy, which he put forward in 1957.

He died in 1958, at the age of 43. He was the first opposition figure to die in office. Although, he passed on at a time the country needed his parliamentary service most, the country has done very little to appreciate his contribution as the opposition leader in the Western House of Representatives.

The uncompromising politician had a turbulent career and was arraigned 17 times for murder, but he triumphed in all the charges proffered against him.

Dikko

He was among the nationalists who canvassed for self rule for the country. Born in Wusasa, Zaria, Kaduna State, he joined the colonial service in 1940 after his training in the medical field. He rose through the ranks of the civil service, becoming a senior medical officer in 1953.

He was a founding member of the Jamiyar Mutanen Arewa, a Northern Nigeria cultural organisation that later formed the nucleus of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) to fight colonial rule.

Dikko later served as Federal Commissioner of Mines and Power in 1967 and later Commissioner for Transportation in 1971 under General Yakubu Gowon administration. There is nothing to suggest that his efforts for self rule have been rewarded. The Kaduna State-born politician deserves to be honoured.

Davies

Hezekiah Oladipo Davies, popularly known as H.O. Davies, was a nationalist and lawyer, whose contribution to the Nigerian nation was momentous. He was prominent in the emerging trade union in the country and he fought the then colonial administration through legal protests. His grandfather was from Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State. He was the Secretary-General of the Lagos Youth Movement, which later transformed in the Nigeria Youth Movement (NYM). The NYM was a political association that became a thorn in the flesh of colonial government. He left the association in 1951 and formed his own political party, the Nigerian Peoples’ Congress (NPC).

He later joined the NCNC, where he and his co-travellers impacted in the polity of the country. A successful lawyer, he was honoured by the Queen of England for his distinction. He was a delegate to the Economic Council of the United Nations in 1964.

Alakija

Sir Adeyemo Alakija was a lawyer, businessman and politician. He was the President of the Nigerian Youth Movement. He was a co-founder of the Daily Time of Nigeria, an independent newspaper that shaped the post independence era. He was largely behind the success recorded the NYM in Lagos politics.

The contribution made by the erudite lawyer to the attainment of independence through the NYM’s persistent struggle for self governance was remarkable. Alakija’s role in the brotherhood community of Free Masons was also legendary. The Egba chief was prominent in the formation of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa and he became its first President.

Mowoe

Mukoro Mowoe was the President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), which was founded in 1931. He rose to prominence in the 1920s through political activism. As a shrewd businessman and politician of the first generation, he deployed his wealth to negotiate a better position for the Niger Delta. He became a thorn in the flesh of the colonialists in the march to independence.

He was elected from the Warri Province to the first Western Regional Assembly in 1946. His role could be compared to those of foremost nationalists like Jaja of Opobo, Nana Olomu of Ebrohimi and William Pepple of Bonny.

The UPU, which he co-founded, established the Urhobo College, Effunrun, the institution that became the citadel of learning in the country. He never succumbed to imperialist intimidation.

Soyinka

Eniola Soyinka co-founded the Egba Women Union with Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. Soyinka is the mother of renowned playwright, Prof. Wole Soyinka. The women activist played a prominent role in decongesting Nigeria of colonial manipulation. She was fully involved in organising workshops for illiterate Egba women to make them understand their rights as citizens.

The contribution of this rights activist remained indelible in Nigeria, yet nothing significant has been done by succeeding administration to appreciate her efforts.

Dipcharima

Dipcharima forayed into politics was to fight colonial exploitative economic policy. He did this through the NCNC the major existing political party in 1946 after the enactment of the Richards Constitution which allowed more indigenous political participation.

In 1947, he was among the delegation on London and to object certain acts in the Richards Constitution. To demand the repeal of certain sections in the Public Lands Acquisition Ordinance and Amendment, Crown Land Ordinance and Amendment, Mineral Ordinance and Appointment and Deposition of Chiefs Ordinance and Amendment.

He was elected as a Native Authority councilor in charge of Prisons and the Police and later as a member of the Federal House of Representatives.

Ikoli

Ernest Ikoli hailed from Bayelsa State. He was a journalist by profession. He was one of the nationalists who fought for independence of the country. He could be described as a forgotten hero of the modern Nigeria. Ikoli, H.O. Davies and Samuel Akinsanya founded the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in 1934. He rose to become the President of the organisation. In 1942, he represented Lagos at the legislative council.

He was not only advocating the end of colonial rule in Nigeria, but led an attack by over 1000 warrior against the Royal Niger Company trading posts. The attack on the British company led to reprisals, which eventually resulted in the British-Nembe war.

Eyo Ita

Ita was one of the founding fathers Nigeria. Upon his return from the United States, he formed the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) in 1934 and galvanized the Nigerian youths for nationalism.

He campaigned vigorously for education as a tool of freeing the African mind and soul and liberating it from forces of political repression. He later became the proprietor of the West African People’s Institute in Calabar.

He joined the NCNC in the 1940s and was elected Vice President after the death of Herbert Macaulay. He left the NCNC to form the National Independence Party (NIP), one of the five Nigerian parties that represented the country at London Constitutional Conference.

Joseph Tarka

Senator Joseph Tarka was one of the founding fathers of United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC). The union was dedicated to protecting the Middle Belt cause. By extension, advocating for self rule in Nigeria. He was elected to the Federal House of Representatives on a non party basis.

He later became the President of UMBC in 1957 and ensured that the Nigeria got independence through legislative pronouncement at the House of Representatives.

David Obadiah Lot

David Obadiah Lot was a religious leader from Benue State. He joined the political scene in 1940 to secure better political bargain for Nigeria. In 1946, he was part of the Nigerian delegation to London for a constitutional conference.

He used the Middle Belt Zone League (MLL) to pursue his dream of a better Nigeria. He was elected into the House of Representatives. Being a teacher, he groomed ardent followers who were sympathetic to the Middle Belt cause. He was equally vocal in the creation of separate state for the region in the Nigerian composition.

Dr. Akinwande Savage

The political activist was a member of the National Congress of British West Africa (NCBWA). He was resident in Ghana when the issue of independence for African states took the front burner. He returned to Nigeria in 1915 and entrenched the NCBWA in the country.

Though, the congress did not perform up to expectation in Lagos. The domineering position of the Gold Coast group within NCBWA whittled its influence in Nigeria. The group supported local and tribal institutions to fight for self economic determination and governance.

Mojola Agbebi

Mojola Agbebi was a Baptist minister. He was formerly known as David Brown Vincent. But, he later renounced the name during the wave of African nationalism. He was a strong supporter of self-rule. He used both religious and political platform to canvass for African rebirth and independence.

He played a prominent role in the establishment of the native Baptist Church now (First African Church) in Lagos. He supported his wife’s effort in establishing the Baptist Women’s League. He presented a paper at the first Universal Races Congress in London in 1911, canvassing for the return of African churches and territory to their original owners.

Chief Arthur Edward Prest

Chief Arthur Edward Prest was a prominent Itsekiri politician from the defunct Warri Division. He was police officer before he was elected as member of the Western Regional House of Assembly. He declared his support for the Action Congress in 1952, but left in 1957.

Bode Thomas

He was one of the founding members of the Action Group (AG). The politician called for strong regional based politics. This, according to him, would lead to competition among the regions for development and progress. The lawyer championed the adoption of true federalism for Nigeria.

Gambo Sawaba

The uncompromising and radical female politician dominated the northern politics, calling the authorities to recognise the role of women. Her bold initiatives came with useful results, as the Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC) took into cognizance programmes that elevated the women folk.

Inuwa Wada

Inuwa Wada was a parliamentarian and Minister of Works and Survey under the administration of Tafawa Balewa. He was a veteran parliamentarian towards the end of the Nigerian First Republic and was given the Defense portfolio in 1965 after the death of Muhammadu Ribadu.

He was first elected in 1951 as a member of the Northern House of Assembly; he was subsequently nominated to the Federal House of Representatives and was a member and later minister from 1951 to 1966.

The Kano-born politician trained as a teacher and was known by many as a quiet figure in contrast to the hectic demands of his ministerial portfolio in the Works department.

Janet Mokelu

She was a frontline female politician in the pre independence period. She was a role model and inspirer to many women in the colonial day, ensuring that women participated in the fight against oppression.

The Enugu State-born lawmaker was appoint into the Eastern House of Chiefs in 1959 and later elected into the Eastern House of Assembly as the first women be elected.

Mary Okezie

Mary Okezie was the one of the prominent women that led the Aba Women’s Riot in 1929. She was a teacher at the Anglican Mission School, Umuocham, in the present day Abia State when the riot broke out. She was very sympathetic to the cause of the rioters. Nevertheless, being a civil servant, she could not directly participate in the protest against the census, which was widely regarded as a prelude for the imposition of more taxes by the colonial government.

Okezie submitted a memo to the commission of inquiry on the reason why the riot broke out. She founded the Ngwa Women’s Association in 1948 to promote the education and welfare of women.

Ladipo Solanke

Ladipo Solanke was a political activist with unparalleled record. He joined the Union of the Students of African Descent and championed the cause of the emergent students of African descent. He led the West Africa Students Union (WASU) and was responsible for securing hostel accommodation for students in London.

He taught Yoruba among Nigerian students in London, who did not show much interest in African tradition and culture. He later became a broadcaster. His voice was popular on the radio, where he utilised the Yoruba Language to dish out propaganda against colonial rule. His leaflets, written in English and Yoruba, also caused panic in the rank of the colonialists. He devoted a significant portion of his time towards the betterment of the life of the people. He travelled around the sub-continent to get relief materials for the West African students and achieved a considerable success. The student body he left fought relentlessly for emancipation from imperialist domination.

Solanke however did not live to witness the independence of Nigeria; he died in 1958 from lung cancer.

October 2, 2015
We’re not doing badly at 55, says Obasanjo

Despite the country’s “mistakes and missteps,” former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria is not doing badly at 55 as a nation, compared to the so called settled societies or matured countries.

Obasanjo who noted that 55 years in the life of a nation is still relatively young said the country has managed to be dynamic and progressive all these while.

The ex – President who spoke with reporters at his Abeokuta residence , on Thursday, in respect of the Nigeria’s 55 years of nationhood, said all hands to be on deck to enable the country attain its full potentials.

He said Nigerians should be willing to learn from past mistakes while core national values should also not be eroded to enable the real growth and progress become manifest.

He noted that the Nigeria is now well positioned with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for both recognition and active participation in global politics in manner that would likely elicit positive attention from the international community.

According to Obasanjo, feelers from the world leaders and statesmen during the recent UN summit revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari did not only have a good outing there, but also helped to place Nigeria at a strategic position for global politics.

He identified youth unemployment, education, security, justice, the economy among others as areas the country should not joke with particularly corruption, saying it has the capacity to destroy everything noble about Nigeria.

Obsanjo said: “Fifty five years in the life of a nation is comparatively young, growing and when you look at the life and history of those that you may call settled societies or reasonably matured countries, we are not doing too badly.

“They have had missteps just like we are having missteps, they have made mistakes and most of them have learnt from their mistakes, they have been dynamic in the way they have progressed and I believe that we are doing the same thing.

“What is important is that certain cardinal pinches, cardinal features of our national live, values, should not be eroded. And then we should also be willing to learn from our mistakes,” Obasanjo said.

October 1, 2015
Nigeria @55 : Heroes to remember

By Femi Akinpelu Joseph

Today, October 1 , 2015, Nigeria celebrates the 55th anniversary of her independence as a sovereign nation.
There are some notable personalities that are worth remembering and celebrating as their efforts during the pre-colonial era greatly contributed to the freedom attained by the nation.
Worthy of mentioning also, are other national heroes whose efforts have helped to sustain and advance the gains of independence.
On the list of those Nigeria’s heroes and heroines are the following individuals.

Herbert Macaulay
Herbert Macaulay on June 24, 1923, founded the Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP), the first Nigerian political party. The NNDP won all the seats in the elections of 1923, 1928 and 1933.In the 1930s, Macaulay took part in organizing Nigerian nationalist militant attacks on the British colonial government in Nigeria.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe
Chief Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, usually referred to as Zik, was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism. He was head of state of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966. He served as the second and last Governor-General from 1960 to 1963 and the first President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966, holding the presidency throughout the Nigerian First Republic
After a successful journalism career, Azikiwe entered into politics. In 1944, Macaulay and NYM leader Azikiwe agreed to form the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). A part of Cameroon was incorporated into the British colony of Nigeria. Azikiwe increasingly became the dominant Nigerian nationalist leader, he supported Pan-Africanism and a pan-Nigerian based nationalist movement.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo, GCFR (who lived between 6 March 1909 and 9th of May 1987), was a nationalist and statesman who played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement, the First and Second Republics and the Civil War. He is most notable as the outstanding first premier of the Western Region but was also a successful federal commissioner for finance and Vice President of the Federal Executive Council in the Civil War and was thrice a major contender for his country’s highest office.
A native of Ikenne in Ogun State, he started his career, like some of his well-known contemporaries, as a nationalist in the Nigerian Youth Movement, where he rose to become Western Provincial Secretary. Awolowo was responsible for much of the progressive social legislation that has made Nigeria a modern nation.

Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born late in 1912 in Bauchi. He was the son of a Bageri Muslim district head in the Bauchi divisional district of Lere.
He was a vocal advocate of the rights of northern Nigeria, and together with Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, who held the hereditary title of Sardauna of Sokoto; he founded the Northern People’s Congress (NPC).
Balewa entered the government in 1952 as Minister of Works, and later served as Minister of Transport. In 1957, he was appointed Chief Minister, forming a coalition government between the NPC and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), led by Nnamdi Azikiwe. He retained the post as Prime Minister when Nigeria gained independence in 1960, and was reelected in 1964.
However, as Prime Minister of Nigeria, he played important roles in the continent’s formative indigenous rule. He was one of the leaders in the formation of the Organization of African Unity and creating a cooperative relationship with French speaking African countries

Sir Ahmadu Bello
Sir Ahmadu Bello KBE (June 12, 1910 – January 15, 1966) was one of the foremost early Nigerian politicians, and was the first premier of the Northern Nigeria region from 1954-1966. He was the Sardauna of Sokoto and one of the prominent leaders in Northern Nigeria alongside Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, both of whom were prominent in negotiations about the region’s place in an independent Nigeria.
As leader of the Northern People’s Congress, he dominated Nigerian politics throughout the early Nigerian Federation and the First Nigerian Republic.
In forming the 1960 independence federal government of the Nigeria, Bello as president of the NPC, chose to remain Premier of Northern Nigeria and devolved the position of Prime Minister of the Federation to the deputy president of the NPC Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

Chief Anthony Enahoro
Chief Anthony Enahoro, born 22nd July, 1923 was one of Nigeria’s foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists. He became the editor of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s newspaper, The Southern Nigerian Defender, Ibadan in 1944 at the age of 21, thus becoming Nigeria’s youngest editor ever. He later became the editor of Zik’s Comet, Kano from 1945 to 1949; associate editor of West African Pilot, Lagos and editor-in-chief of Morning Star from 1950 to 1953.

Professor Wole Soyinka
Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka, born 13th July, 1934, is a Nigerian playwright and poet. His work, “A Dance of The Forest” (1960), a biting criticism of Nigeria’s political elites, won a contest that year as the official play for Nigerian Independence Day on 1st October, 1960. In 1986, Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first African to be honoured. His Nobel Prize acceptance speech, “This Past Must Address Its Present”, was devoted to South African freedom-fighter, Nelson Mandela.

Mrs. Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti
Mrs. Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti, born 25th October, 1900 in Abeokuta, Nigeria, is the mother of the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti. She was a very powerful force advocating for the Nigerian woman’s right to vote and has been described as the doyen of female rights in Nigeria. In 1947, she was described by the West African Pilot Newspaper as the ‘Lioness of Lisabi’ for her leadership of the women of the Egba clan in a campaign against arbitrary taxation. That struggle led to the abdication of the Egba high king, Oba Ademola II in 1949.

Aminu Kano
Aminu Kano was born to the family of an Islamic scholar, Mallam Yusuf of the scholarly Gyanawa fulani clan, who was a mufti at the Alkali court in Kano. He attended Katsina College and later went to the University of London’s, Institute of Education, alongside Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. While in Bauchi, he spoke freely on political issues and extended his educational horizon by engaging in some various political and educational activities beyond his formal teaching duties.
He was also a secretary of the Bauchi Discussion Circle, a group whose activities were later constricted as a result of an attack on indirect rule by Aminu Kano.
During the pre-independence era, a new progressive union led by Aminu Kano and composed of progressive leaning teachers and some radical [intellectuals] such as Magaji Dambatta, Abba Maikwaru and Bello Ijumu emerged to fill any vacuum in political radicalism in the region.
He was Kano State governor in the second republic under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Taiwo Akinkunmi
Akinkunmi was born Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi in Ibadan, of Yoruba origin. He was the designer of the Nigerian (Green White Green) flag. He had worked some years before gaining admission to the Norwood Technical College in London where he studied electrical engineering. While studying there, he designed the Nigerian Flag. He entered the competition which he came across in a library.
He always wears the colours of the flag he designed as part of his attire, usually wearing a green Yoruba cap, and painted his house with a green-white-green pattern.

M.K.O Abiola
Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, CFR (24 August 1937 – 7 July 1998), often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola, was a popular Nigerian Yoruba businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Yoruba Egba clan.
He ran for the Presidency in 1993, and is widely regarded as the presumed winner of the inconclusive election since no official final results were announced. He died in 1998, after being denied victory when the entire election results were dubiously annulled by the preceding military president Ibrahim Babangida because of alleged evidence that they were corrupt and unfair.
He overwhelmingly defeated his rival, Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention. The election was declared Nigeria’s freest and fairest presidential election by national and international observers, with Abiola even winning in his Northern opponent’s home state.
The fact that Moshood Abiola (a Southern Muslim) was able to secure a national mandate freely and fairly remains unprecedented in Nigeria’s history. Moshood Abiola sprang to national and international prominence as a result of his philanthropic activities. Chief MKO Abiola’s memory is celebrated in Nigeria and internationally, on 12 June.
MKO Abiola has been referred to as Nigeria’s greatest statesman.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
Fela Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, lived between 15th October 1938 – 2nd August 1997. Also known as Fela Anikulapo Kuti or simply Fela, he was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, human rights activist, and political maverick. He was famed for being the pioneer of Afrobeats music as well as a controversial figure, due to his unusual music style and personal lifestyle. Kuti thought the most important way for Africans to fight European cultural imperialism was to support traditional African religions and lifestyles.
He was a candid supporter of human rights, and many of his songs are direct attacks against dictatorships, specifically the militaristic governments of Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s. He was also a social commentator, and he criticized his fellow Africans (especially the upper class) for betraying traditional African culture.

Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe, born Albert Chinualumogu Achebe; 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor and critic. His first novel Things Fall Apart (1958) was considered his magnum opus, and is the most widely read book in modern African literature.
Achebe has been called “the father of modern African writing”, and many books and essays have been written about his work over the past fifty years. Achebe was promoted at the NBS to the position of Director of External Broadcasting. One of his first duties was to help create the Voice of Nigeria network.
The station broadcast its first transmission on New Year’s Day 1962, and worked to maintain an objective perspective during the turbulent era immediately following independence.

Gani Fawehinmi
Chief Abdul-Ganiyu “Gani” Oyesola Fawehinmi, (22 April 1938 – 5 September 2009) was a Nigerian author, publisher, philanthropist, social critic, human and civil rights lawyer, politician and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
With his boundless energy he tenaciously and uncompromisingly pursued and crusaded his beliefs, principles and ideals for the rule of law, undiluted democracy, and all embracing and expansive social justice, protection of fundamental human rights and respect for the hopes and aspirations of the masses who are victims of misgovernment of the affairs of the nation.
He was beaten up time after time and was deported from one part of the country to another to prevent him from being able to effectively reach out to the masses among whom he was popular.
In 2008 Mr. Gani Fawehinmi rejected one of the highest national honours that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Nigerian Government – Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) – in protest of the many years of misrule since Nigeria’s independence.

Alhaji Abdulsalami Abubakar
Alhaji Abdulsalami Abubakar is a retired Nigerian Army General who was military President of Nigeria from 9 June 1998 until 29 May 1999. He succeeded Sanni Abacha upon Abacha’s death. It was during Abubakar’s leadership that Nigeria adopted its new constitution on 5 May 1999, which provided for multiparty elections. Abubakar transferred power to president-elect Olusegun Obasanjo on 29 May 1999.
A few days after assuming office, Abubakar promised to hold elections within a year and transfer power to an elected president. He established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), appointing former Supreme Court Justice Ephraim Akpata as chairman
Surprising some critics of the country’s military, Abubakar kept his word and transferred power to elected president Obasanjo on 29 May 1999.

Ameyo Adadevoh
Ameyo Adadevoh was born Ameyo Stella Shade Adadevoh, born 27th of October 1956, was a Nigerian physician. Her great-grandfather, Herbert Macaulay, is one of the most celebrated founders of modern Nigeria.
She is credited with having curbed a wider spread of the Ebola Virus in Nigeria by placing the patient zero, Patrick Sawyer, in quarantine despite pressures from the Liberian Government. On 4 August 2014, it was confirmed that she tested positive for Ebola virus disease and was being treated.

Attahiru Jega
Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega is a Nigerian academic and former Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano. He was appointed as the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2010.
Jega is a former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and was an opponent of the Babangida military government in the early 1990s. He is widely seen as an astute intellectual with a strong sense of ethics and morality.
In spite of the fierce criticism he faced during the campaigning for the 2015 general elections from both the opposition and the ruling party, he went on to deliver a historic and successful elections.
On the 28 of March 2015, under his leadership, elections were conducted in what Nigerians and the World see as free, fair and credible which declared the APC Presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari as winner defeating the Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

October 1, 2015
Buhari’s 10 major Independence Day Quotes

1. No temporary problems or passing challenges should stop us from honoring this day. Let us remind ourselves of the gifts God has given us.

2. We have all the attributes of a great nation. We are not there yet because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullest is unity of purpose.

3. That we have remained together is an achievement we should all appreciate and try to consolidate.

4. Whatever one’s views are, Nigerians must thank former President Jonathan for not digging-in in the face of defeat and thereby saving the country untold consequences.

5. I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone. People should only fear the consequences of their actions.

6. Every new government inherits problems. Ours was no different. But what Nigerians want are solutions, quick solutions not a recitation of problems inherited.

7. There have been a lot of anxiety and impatience over the apparent delay in announcement of ministers. There is no cause to be anxious. Our government set out to do things methodically and properly.

8. Impatience is not a virtue. Order is more vital than speed. Careful and deliberate decisions after consultations get far better results. And better results for our country is what the APC government for CHANGE is all about.

9. Change does not just happen. You and I and all of us must appreciate that we all have our part to play if we want to bring CHANGE about.

10. We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behavior in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.

October 1, 2015
Power and Independence

Once, in the Second Republic, while the then President Shehu Shagari was delivering an Independence Day broadcast on national television, an unplanned power outage occurred, knocking off power supply nationwide, inevitably interrupting the broadcast and its reception by the citizenry.

When power was eventually restored to an embarrassed nation and long after the president had concluded the broadcast, an explanation for the outage emerged. It was that a snake had climbed up the tower members of a transmission line and bridged one of the phases and a tower member, causing a temporary earth fault that forced the line to trip.

The Second Republic lasted from October 1, 1979 to December 31, 1983. But that incident, occurring over 30 years ago, is probably a good symbolic illustration of how long our political independence as a nation has yet to be complemented by freedom from the many natural, man-made and accidental causes of our lack of adequate and reliable power as a nation.

For while we can be said to have received our political independence from Britain, our colonial masters, it might not be wrong to describe us as a nation still being colonised by darkness – the symbolic and summary objectification of our perennially inadequate power generation and supply . And the result of this inadequacy, as we all know, continues to manifest as the chronic distress and underdevelopment of which we have only recently begun to see sustainable signs of their reduction with the relative stabilisation and improvement of power generation and supply nationwide.

It is heartening, though, that President Muhammadu Buhari appreciates the challenges posed by this situation, like Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan before him – who, through their reformist interventions in the power sector, laid the foundation for the improvements currently being experienced in power generation and supply as a result of what some have – I think rightly – termed President Buhari’s “body language” or the Buhari effect.

To drive home the fact of the recent improvement with a combination of facts and symbolism: The peak power generation value in the country on October 1, 2013 and 2014 (our last and penultimate Independence Days before that of this year) was 3,166.6 and 3,687.9 megawatts respectively. However, from the May 29, inauguration of the present government, the country has recorded several new different peak generation values, i.e., 4,662 megawatts on July 29; 4,748 megawatts on August 25; and 4, 810.7 megawatts on August 26. Prior to this, the last peak generation value of 4,516 megawatts had been recorded three years earlier, in 2012.

If the above progressive trend is sustained – as I believe it will – then we can expect to have inched further to freedom from our symbolic colonisation by darkness by generating more power on this year’s Independence Day than we did on the previous one. This optimism is founded on our having already maintained a power generation value higher than what we had on the 2104 Independence Day for most days in September, the month that precedes the Independence Day.

However, even as President Buhari has repeatedly promised to give priority attention to power, the perennial lack of which he has described as intolerable, the real challenge, I think, is in sustaining the current improvement in power beyond this year’s Independence Day, and making it a lasting condition. This can be achieved if, beyond relying on the President’s “body language” as a stimulant for improved power, active steps are taken by his government to develop the power sector sustainably, such that the factors that make for improved power become features of the power system – factors such as quality personnel, reliable infrastructure, dependable equipment, efficient sectoral management, etc.

Indeed, as the President was quoted as saying during a recent engagement with the Ministry of Power, “The problems besetting our power sector are not difficult to identify. Therefore, priorities can be easily set in order to tackle them. The problems are more with transmission than generation, and we equally need to secure the power infrastructure round the country.”

So there is an indication that even the President understands that, to sustain the current gains in power, there is a need to reinforce his “body language” with multi-pronged action to develop the power sector and secure our decolonisation, as it were, from darkness (or the paucity of electricity) and the general distress and underdevelopment it continues to foist on our nation.

But as even the President would admit, what has often been lacking is not the ability to identify such problems. It is the will – political and otherwise – to tackle them in spite of the vested interests that benefit from the dysfunction in our power sector. And I am persuaded that, beyond developing the power sector, it would require our leaders continuously sending a message of zero-tolerance to such interests through their “body language” for any improvement in our power sector to be sustained without the possibility of reversal.

And by “body language”, I mean a psychological disposition whose impact does not necessarily depend on its being deployed consciously. For its can also be an unconscious expression and yet be no less effective as, I think, in the Buhari case and the power sector – the way a cat’s mere presence can check the harmful activities of mice, which are likely to react instinctively to the sight of the cat even without the cat being aware of it.

October 1, 2015
Pruning independence celebrations budget

The fiscal discipline machine is alive and revving. It is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari rejected the purchase of new cars for his personal use when he took office.

He had insisted on using the cars left behind by former President Goodluck Jonathan. By that singular act, he saved the country N400 million. Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also cut their salaries by 50% at the beginning of their tenure.

While Buhari is still pursuing looters of the commonwealth of Nigerians, stolen from the national treasury under former President Jonathan, he has also remained focused on blocking or cutting down drastically any area of leakage or wastage under his watch.

One of his ways of blocking financial leakages was the introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) for all non-exempted Federal Government’s revenue generating agencies to pay in their revenues, rather than using multiple accounts, which are susceptible to fraud.

Complying with the TSA directive was a sort of bitter pills to swallow for some of the civil servants as they hesitated and tried to dodge the Presidential order.

The latest area where President Buhari has cut down wastages, which is in the public domain, is the expenses to be incurred by Nigeria towards her 55th independence celebration billed for Thursday, October 1.

As he cut down the budget for the celebration to N70 million, Buhari harped on the need to avoid frivolity and the importance of channelling such resources to good use for the benefit of the man on the street.

To him, having a low-key independence celebration and using the money that would have been spent on elaborate celebration for tangible infrastructure and development is the way to go.

This N70 million budget is in contrast to most costs expended on past independence anniversary celebration in the country.

The costs of such annual celebrations under the immediate past administration had been in billion naira range.

The celebration, then often go with a lot of fanfare and drains on the treasury despite the fact that the country was suffering from many infrastructural decays and poverty in the land.

But announcing the low-key 2015 independence celebration last Tuesday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, through the Permanent Secretary (Political) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (OSGF), Ibukun Odusote said: “Let me emphasise that this year’s celebration is indeed low-key.

“This is because the present administration appreciates the economic hardship that Nigerians and indeed the nation is confronted with today.

“To address the situation, government has adopted a general policy to be very prudent in the management of our financial resources. This year’s celebration is therefore, in consonance with the cost saving policy direction of this administration.

“To ensure a successful commemoration, four sub-committees have been constituted to handle the preparations for each of the four event. The events are: Jumat prayers, international thanksgiving service, ceremonial change of guards and a children’s party.” He stated

September 29, 2015
Independence: FG declares Thursday as public holiday

The Federal Government on Monday declared Thursday, October 1 as public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 55th Independence celebration.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji, announce this on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press, Yusuf Isiaka.

Magaji, who congratulated Nigerians both at home and abroad, also thanked them for their supports to President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts towards building a peaceful, united and virile nation.

He further urged Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace and unity across the country.

September 28, 2015
Emperor Zig Zag, others set for Independence Day music splash

HIP hop and rap musician, Emperor Zig Zag and hosts of other entertainers would on October 1, 2015, stage a musical show at The Hub Lounge @ Runway, Ikeja Lagos to celebrate the 55th independence anniversary of the nation. The event is to serve as a prelude to the commencement of live performance at the hotel.

The Independence Day celebration is scheduled to hold between 7pm and 11pm.

According to the manager, Mathias Agaba, the “show is free because we want to use it to celebrate the independence of our beloved country. We consider the celebration to be very significant especially now that we have a new government that has change as its watchword. The show will be memorable as we the artistes we have lined up are known for electrifying performances. We have all the necessary musical equipment that artistes of international standard can use. Aside from the music, we would also cut what we have dubbed the national cake and also have a green carpet to honour our esteemed guests. After the Independence Day show, we would be having live band performance every Friday. It is going to be a regular weekend of entertainment for our customers. Our organization is an offshoot of Metropark. We started operations in 2010 but deemed it necessary to inject life band into our operations for the enjoyment and relaxation of our customers who are made up of upwardly mobile people in the society. The good thing about our premises is that the security of guests is always guaranteed.”

Speaking, Emperor Zig Zag assured that “the show would be one of the best in the land and I can assure everybody out there that my colleagues and I would make their day come October 1. We are prepared for it and would not fail. It costs nothing to attend the show, all you need is just to come and enjoy yourself. After the independence show, I would always be on the ground every Friday to treat guests to the best of live band performance. The environment is cozy and would always enhance the relaxation of the people.

September 26, 2015
Promoting judiciary independence and ethics

Essentially, ethics refer to well-based standards of right and wrong that spell out what human beings ought to do in certain circumstances. These refer to well-accepted virtues such as honesty, dedication, loyalty, dignity of purpose, etc.

Therefore, ethics in the legal profession refer to the actions of members of the bar and bench alike in the overall discharge of their responsibilities and in the exercise of their rights and privileges.

The legal profession, being a noble and prestigious profession, just like every other profession, has its code of conduct which regulates the general affairs of its members, be it in their relationship with clients, the court, the public, etc.

These set of rules are now known as the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, (RPC) 2007. As a matter of fact, Section 1, RPC captures the general duties and conducts of legal practitioners.

As the oldest and perhaps, most noble profession in Nigeria, extensive ethical rules of professional conduct were first drafted and adopted by the General Council of the Bar in 1980. In the same year, the Federal Government Officially gazetted the said rules. It is important to note that this set of rules has been reviewed, the result of which is the “Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners” dated February 7, 2007 which is the extant rules.

For a proper discussion of this very important theme, I consider it apposite to briefly highlight some of the major issues bordering on integrity of legal practitioners.

Dealing with clients property and conflict of interest

As regards dealing with Clients property, two major issues arise:

On Remuneration for fees for legal services rendered – Rule 48(1) states thus: A lawyer is entitled to be paid adequate remuneration for his service to the client. On dealing with client’s properly, Rule 23(2) states thus: “where a lawyer collects money for his client, or is in a position to deliver property on behalf of his client, he shall promptly report, and account for it, and shall not mix money or property with, or use it as, his own.”

On the other hand, conflict of interest is an area that has given rise to so many issues bordering on the integrity and dignity of lawyers. It is simply a breach of professional ethics. Many at times, lawyer’s vested interest conflicts or clashes with that of his client, which immediately raises questions about his integrity.

There are decided cases on this issue (both local and international). I shall quickly reel out a brief facts and decision of the court on a particular case which, to my mind, will further shed light on this sub-head. I refer to Law Society of New South Wales v. Harvey (1976) 2 NSWLR 15.

Relationship with client within the bounds of the Law

In this regard, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) have received various petitions in response of lawyers’ breach of certain rules subsumed in this sub-head, such as professional negligence, breach of duty of confidentiality, professional incompetence, mismanagement of client’s money, property, etc. In many instance, acts have been adjudged to be infamous conducts.

Essentially, Section 12 of the Legal Practitioners Act provides four (4) offences for which a legal Practitioner can be punished by the LPDC, they are:

i. infamous conduct in a professional respect; or

ii. being convicted of any crime which is incompatible with the status of a Legal practitioner by any court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria; or

iii. obtaining enrolment by fraud; or

iv. for any act that is generally regarded as incompatible with the status of a Legal practitioner

It is interesting to note that conducts that qualify as infamous conducts are not stated in the Legal Practitioners Act but some decided cases, both local and foreign have given us some ideas of such acts.

In Allison v. General Council Medical Education and Registration (1894) 1 Q.B 750, the English court defined an infamous conduct as such conduct “regarded as disgraceful or dishonourable by his professional brethren of good repute and competence.”

In MDPT v. Okonkwo (2001) 7 NWLR (Pt711) 206, a case which borders on medical misconduct by a medical practitioner also provided a good opportunity for the Supreme Court to describe what would amount to an infamous conduct. Ayoola, JSC, while reading the lead judgment described an infamous conduct thus:

“A charge of infamous conduct must be of a serious infraction of acceptable standard of behaviour or ethics of the profession. It connotes conducts so disreputable and morally reprehensible as to bring the profession into disrepute if condoned or left unpenalised …”

I consider it very important to also state that the relationship between the lawyer and his client is one of confidence. This duty of confidence also gives rise to an ethical obligation whose breach would be ground for disciplinary action by the LPDC.

Let me also be quick to state that the duty of confidence is not without some qualifications, such as where the client consents or where the lawyer is compelled by an enabling law to make certain disclosures on his client’s instructions or where such disclosure are in the public interest.

A lawyer must, in the discharge of his duties as a minister in the temple of justice, always remind himself of the need to preserve his integrity and not sacrifice on the altar of pecuniary gains. Personal integrity is the most essential quality of a lawyer.

Engagement in Business

This issue has over the years, given rise to disciplinary actions by the LPDC regarding the conducts of some lawyers. It is rather unfortunate to discover today that many of our colleagues have suddenly become “Jacks of all Trades”. The desperate pursuit of penicuniary achievements have led many lawyers to carry out unwholesome acts not befitting of a member of this noble profession.

The General Council of the Bar in its wisdom had anticipated that if lawyers were not restricted to law practice alone, their personal integrity may be tarnished; hence the RPC. Rule 7(1) of the RPC states as follows:

“(1) unless permitted by the General Council of the Bar (hereinafter referred to as “Bar Council”) a lawyer shall not practice as a legal practitioner at the same time as he practises any other profession.

(2) A lawyer shall not practise as a legal practitioner while personally engaged in the business of commission agent.

Discipline of Legal Practitioners

This is perhaps, the most talked-about issue among colleagues at different fora organised to brainstorm and articulate new roadmap for the profession. Both the bar and the bench have in recent times been inundated with cases bordering on professional misconduct, abuse of trust, negligence, etc.

Quite a number of these cases had been entertained by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), a body established pursuant to Section 10, Legal Practitioners Act (LPA), CAP L11, LFN, 2004 to handle or deal with cases of professional misconduct.

The said Section has clearly set out the penalties applicable where a legal practitioner is adjudged culpable as alleged.

In this regard, the LPDC may impose the following penalties:

a) Order the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to strike off the name of the alleged offender from the roll of legal practitioner in Nigeria

b) Suspend that person from practice as a legal practitioner for such period as may be specified in the direction

c) Admonish that person.

It is important to state at this juncture that “the LPDC, in wielding the big stick, looks carefully at the severity of the alleged misconduct or offence for the purpose of determining the appropriate sanction.

For instance, where a legal practitioner is adjudged guilty of a misconduct not amounting to an infamous conduct, but same is incompatible with the status of a legal practitioner, the LPDC, may in its wisdom, suspend or admonish such a legal practitioner regarding his future conducts. His name cannot be struck off the roll of legal practitioners.

Liability in Professional Negligence

Neither the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA) nor the RPC defines what is meant by professional negligence. However, resort could be had to the ‘Black’s Law Dictionary” Sixth Edition page 1032 for the meanings of the word “negligence”

I quote as follows: “The term refers only to that legal delinquency which results whenever a man fails to exhibit the care which he ought to exhibit, whether it be slight, ordinary, or great. It is characterized chiefly by inadvertence, thoughtlessness, inattention, and the like …”

This, no doubt gives us an idea of this sub-topic. A legal practitioner, like any other professional, is liable to any wrong committed in his private capacity in relation to his client’s express instruction(s).

He may be sued in contract, tort or criminal misconducts. The limit of his liability is as contained in Section 9, LPA

Compliance with the rules of professional ethics by lawyers

It is unfortunate that the level of compliance with the rules of professional ethics is declining by the day. Substantial numbers of lawyers have engaged themselves in deliberately flouting the Rules of professional conduct as provided for in the relevant rules of professional conduct as explained above.

This might not be unconnected with the increasing number of lawyers and the decline in social value. We have noticed, in the recent past, breaches of the major rules of professional ethics.

Enforcement of the rules of professional ethics

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) is the body statutorily charged with the responsibility of maintaining and enforcing discipline among lawyers. Section 10 of the LPA establishes the LPDC with the duty of considering and determining cases where it is alleged that a person whose name is on the role has misbehaved in his capacity as a legal practitioner.

There have been complains in some quarters that the Disciplinary Committee of the NBA has not been very active in the enforcement of the rules of professional ethics among lawyers. However, there have been reported cases in recent time where the L.P.D.C sanctioned lawyers who were found guilty of professional misconduct.

Conclusion

This paper has only attempted to bring to the front-burner the lingering issues that border on the general conduct of legal practitioners. Three basic issues have been highlighted in this speech, which are: A legal practitioner’s dealing with his client’s property and conflict of interest, relationship with clients within the bounds of the law and engagement in business. The spectrum of issues or conducts of legal practitioners that relate to the topic in discourse are more than those discussed herein for want of time. Beyond anything else, I feel compelled to reiterate the fact that the legal profession is a calling, and as practitioners, we are officers in the temple of justice, hence the need to imbibe the finest conducts.

Further to this, we must be reminded that personal integrity is the most cherished quality and asset of a legal practitioner. With integrity, clients’ confidence is earned!

•Adedeji is Managing Partner at Adedeji & Owotomo, LLP, Lagos

May 12, 2015