The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) Afam Osigwe (SAN) has blamed the political crisis in Rivers State on the ego of the political actors involved.
Osigwe said the problem resulted from the ego of the principal actors who failed to see the need to sit down to find a solution that works for the benefit of people of the state.
The NBA president spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at a news conference organised by NBA’s Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP) to herald its annual conference scheduled for between April 24 and 27 in Jos, Plateau State.
Osigwe said blaming the Supreme Court or any other body will not solve the problem.
He added: “If the actors had placed Rivers above their own personal interests and cared about the security and welfare of the people, we would not be where we are.
“It became an ego fight and an issue of who wins. So, ego is at the base of the problem in Rivers and not the Supreme Court.
“People get judgments from the court and still decide to go for an amicable solution, so it is not the judgment of the Supreme Court but the principal actors that are to be blamed,’’ Osigwe said.
He added that while the NBA was not in a legal argument with the president, the association was of the view that some of the actions taken may not be supported by the constitution.
“We are of the opinion that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution cannot be read in isolation from Section 11 of the same constitution.
“There have been killings in many states in Nigeria and much more breakdown of law and order than we have seen in Rivers but no state of emergency was declared in those states.
“We are of the view that the problem in Rivers can be solved by the principal actors swallowing their egos and putting the welfare and security of the people of Rivers above their personal interests.
“This declaration may not solve the problem in Rivers and it worries me that an administrator can be appointed and worse still a retired military officer to administer the state.
“It is unconstitutional and should not be supported because we may be setting a dangerous precedent,’’ Osigwe said.
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Earlier, the Chairman, Conference Planning Committee (CPC), Paul Ogbole (SAN) said the NBA-SLP’s 2025 annual conference has as its theme: :”Uncommon challenges in a rapidly changing legal environment.”
Ogbole said the gathering “aims to explore the contemporary challenges evolving in the legal environment, the impact of global interconnectedness on legal systems, the growing demand for specialized legal services and provide insights into navigating the legal frontiers.
“This event will also highlight great opportunities for legal practitioners, including the development of legal tech solutions, the expansion of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and the increasing focus on access to justice and legal empowerment initiatives.
“It is also important to note that legal professionals must embrace a culture of continuous learning, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and adopt a client-centric approach to navigate the complexities of the modern legal landscape successfully.
“Therefore, this year’s conference promises to provide a space for legal practitioners to engage in this ongoing learning process, collaboration and mentorship, expanding client base, professional development, exposure to new ideas and technologies, and continuing education credits,” he said.
Ogbole, who hailed the Plateau State Government for its support, said the conference will also feature “robust and enriching activities specially crafted for young lawyers at this conference.”
