The crisis rocking the Egbe Amofin (Southwest Lawyers Forum) may soon be resolved. The group’s leaders held parallel meetings in Ibadan and Lagos at the weekend, and there are indications that both parties are open to an amicable resolution of the issues, report Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU and JOSEPH JIBUEZE.
With less than six months to the election of new officers to run the affairs of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Southwest Lawyers Forum, known as Egbe Amofin, has set up a committee to reconcile warring factions in its fold.
The group has been mirred in a leadership crisis, culminating in some members, including about 15 NBA branch chairmen, “sacking” the group’s leadership and setting up a Central Working/Steering Committee.
Problems began at its meeting in Abeokuta on August 17, last year, when the forum set up a screening committee to vet its candidates for the NBA elections, as well as put up a committee to review its constitution to restructure the forum and reposition it.
The meeting adjourned to meet again in early October, last year in the Akure, Ondo State home of Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN). The meeting, however, did not hold, prompting a group of 15 NBA branch chairmen to request for an extra-ordinary general meeting, which was held on December 7, last year at Chief Adedipe’s house.
During the meeting, the chairmen considered the reports of the Constitution Drafting Committee and the screening committee, among others. They subsequently elected interim officers to run Egbe Amofin’s affairs. Also at the meeting, they ratified the report of the Screening Committee and adopted former NBA General Secretary Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN) as its Presidential candidate.
However, the Chief Bandele Aiku (SAN)-led group fixed its meeting at the Chief Afe Babalola Bar Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, which was held last Saturday.
On the same day in Lagos, the Central Working/Steering Committee, under the leadership of interim chairman Adebayo Ayodele, met in Lagos.
NBA branch chairmen at the Lagos meeting were Ayodele (Abeokuta), Olubunmi Olugbade (Ikere Ekiti), Kunle Adetowubo (Ondo), Gbenga Oguniran (Ogbomosho), Muyiwa Obamawa (Sagamu), Bode Oyeyemi (Badagry), S. K Owosile (Ikorodu), A. Adewunmi (Ado Ekiti), Monday Ubani (Ikeja) and A. Ahmed (Owo). Chairmen of Ile-Ife, Ota, Okitipupa, Ikole and Ikirin branches were said to have sent their apologies for being absent.
The Ibadan meeting started with the consideration of a resolution signed by 12 NBA branch chairmen calling for peace and reconciliation within the forum.
The resolution reads in part: “Following the break away of a splinter group of the Southwest Lawyers’ Forum (Egbe Amofin) by reason of a caucus meeting held by some members of Egbe Amofin in Akure on December 7, 2013, it has become necessary to save the unity of Egbe Amofin, our collective heritage, and our place within the Nigerian Bar Association.
“Whereas we recognise our common tie is in Egbe Amofin as the umbrella body representing the interest of Southwest lawyers; whereas there might be disagreements between some members of the Egbe Amofin, we the under listed NBA Southwest Branch Chairmen unanimously resolved as follows:
“That we unequivocally dissociate ourselves and our branches from the convening, the holding of the meeting of the breakaway caucus of the Southwest Lawyers Forum held in Akure on December 7, 2013.
“That we further dissociate ourselves from the resolution allegedly reached at the said caucus meeting on the adoption of Dele Adesina (SAN), or any other candidate as the nominee of the Southwest for the next NBA Presidential elections in 2014.
“That we identify only one Egbe Amofin under the leadership of Chief Bamidele Aiku (SAN) as Chairman, Ranti Ajeleti Esq as Secretary, and Mrs. Toyin Adegoke as Treasurer.
“That it is our decision that Egbe Amofin remains a united forum and all publications on the state of affairs within the Egbe by various caucuses, groups and persons within the Egbe Amofin should cease. That we call on all our respected leaders, patrons, chairmen, and members to stand together and close ranks quickly to resolve all lingering disagreements.”
After reading this resolution, the branch chairmen who were signatory to it were called one after the other and they confirmed the authenticity of the document.
Afterwards, the meeting adopted the document, discussed and eventually agreed to set up a reconciliation committee, headed by Chief Solomon Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN). The committee was given three weeks to reach out to all aggrieved members of the forum and reconcile everybody. Other members are Chief L. O. Oke (SAN) and Mrs. C.J. Aremu (SAN).
The meeting dissolved the screening committee, which it set up in the Abeokuta meeting and constituted a new screening committee with former NBA President Chief Priscila Kuye as Chairman. Members are Ahmed Raji (SAN), Dr. Babatunde Ajibade (SAN), Mobalaji Ojibare, Chief Adebiyi Odugbesan, Adekunle Babalola, Alex Muoka, Ola Orinmoloye and Oluwaseyi Ojoba.
The committee was given two weeks to send its report to the house. The chairman of reconciliation committee was authorised to bring in one or two branch chairmen from the other faction into the screening committee. The meeting adjourned till February 8 at the same venue to consider the committees’ report.
On how he intends to go after this reconciliation, Awomolo told The Nation: “I am praying that God will give me the grace to go about it. God is the God of peace and He will bring peace among Yoruba lawyers. The tongue and the teeth, close as they are they quarrel, but they reconcile, otherwise the owner of the tongue and the teeth will not live any more.
“So, we need to reconcile ourselves. What is the purpose of this quarrel in the first place? I want to be this and I want to be that, but it is only God that promotes, makes leaders and puts people into positions; it is not by power and by might. So, I will try my very best that God will help us to bring back the Egbe as it should be. You too, the press should help me, if you have suggestions, send to me so that we can move forward.”
Prof. Gabriel Olawuyin (SAN) said the group would gain nothing through wrangling; adding that he fully supports the peace moves. “We should reconcile the warring parties. I don’t believe that it is beyond us to do that. The moment we reconcile the various parties, then the war ahead will be much easier for us. I don’t believe that there is any need for us to continue to wrangle over trivialities because as far as I am concerned, they are trivialities and we shouldn’t because of offices create dissentions that will tear apart the entire organisation.
“We will reconcile everybody, those of us who have been walking on the sidelines, we will do everything possible to reconcile our people. We have an idea of where the problem lies and by the grace of God we shall be able to manage everything.”
Chairman of NBA Ibadan branch Seun Abimbola said: “Some of had insisted all along that the Egbe Amofin Forum remains one. We do not believe that the disagreement that exists should be allowed to fester and to break into camps. Yes, we might have needs, we might have desires, we might have aspirations, we might have expectations, we might have ambitions, but all of that will be achievable within the same umbrella of this forum, so I am happy about the move to reconcile and I hope all the parties and the players will give back the reconciliation move so that we can have one house.”
Chairman, NBA Lagos branch, Alex Muoka said: “I agree with the decision to reconcile the breakaway faction; it shows maturity and good judgment. It is obvious to everyone that there is strength in unity and it is in the interest of the Southwest to have a strong and united forum rather than splinter groups.”
On his advice to the committee, Muoka said: “It is difficult to presume to advise a senior lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and an elder like Chief Awomolo. I can only suggest that in speaking with the breakaway group, he should caution that history would judge them harshly if the consequences of their actions impacts negatively on the success of the Egbe’s candidates in the 2014 Bar elections.”
Secretary of Ikere branch, Dr. Adeniyi Adedoyin praised the group for “towing the path of the bigger brother in allowing the reconciliation committee to be constituted.”
“Elections will come and go, Egbe will remain united and that is what we all stand for. Secondly, Chief Awomolo is a consummate Bar man. It is highly commendable that somebody of his status is the chairman of that committee. It is my belief that he will do a thorough and a very good job and at the end of the day, Egbe will be united, strong and we will all be happy,” Adedoyin said.
Former Ikorodu branch chairman Nurudeen Ogbara said: “This is a right step in the right direction, but there is need to do more than setting up a reconciliation committee. There is a need to set up a committee to find out both the remote and immediate causes of what has happened and then proffer solution.”
At the Lagos meeting, the Egbe Amofin “Central Working Committee” said they were sticking with their adoption of Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN) as their Presidential candidate.
According to them, an agreement was reached in 2008 that Adesina should run when it is the Southwest’s turn again after he stepped down for former NBA President Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Ayodele said 17 out of the 23 branches that make up the Southwest bar were in support of Adesina’s candidacy. He said: “We had directed Adesina in 2008 to step down for Chief Olarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). That meeting was chaired by Chief Aiku. If, in 2008, Adesina obeyed us, why must we not keep to our words since he listened to us the last time?
“We re-affirm our support for the aspiration of Mr Adesina, the endorsed candidate, and charge him to continue to exploit all legitimate and realistic ways to sell his candidature.
“We resolve to jointly and individually work hard to achieve a successful election of Adesina as the President of NBA come July 2014,” he added.
The factional group described the Ibadan meeting as “unfortunate”, but indicated that their door remains open for reconciliation
“We consider this state of affairs as unfortunate. We believe the outcome of the Ibadan meeting today will convince the Chief Aiku group that majority drives democracy and that there is the need to allow equity, fairness and justice to prevail in this matter. We resolve that the obvious destabilisation effort of some of the members using the respected Chief Aiku should not be allowed to succeed. It must continue to be resisted. The strength of the forum must be preserved.
“The House resolved to extend its hands of fellowship to all and sundry with a view to unify the forum under the principle of equity, fairness and justice which are essential elements of democracy and rule of law.”
The group’s draft constitution was exhaustively debated at the Lagos meeting and it was resolved that it would be sent to a five-member committee to harmonise decisions.
The meeting reviewed Egbe Amofin’s activities in the recent past, noting that it appears to have been limited to NBA election issues. It was resolved that the group would take “definite and dynamic” interest in the affairs of legal practitioners of Yoruba extraction.
It plans to organise an Egbe Amofin law week to be held at the source of Yoruba-land, Ile-Ife in May this year. “The House” also considered the need for a bar news for the group. The Lagos meeting adjourned till February 1.
