PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

‘NBA-AGC WILL HAVE BOLD IMPRINTS ALL OVER,’ SAYS EROJIKWE

The Chairman of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for this year’s Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBA-AGC), Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe has shed more light on the theme of the conference titled “Bold Transitions.”

Speaking at a World Press Conference to herald the AGC, Erojikwe said: “The key word in the theme for this year’s conference was picked very deliberately. Interestingly, it is the word that we want people to pay attention to.

“In the last two conferences, we have had themes like ‘Facing the future’, and ‘Taking the lead.’ However, the word ‘BOLD’ is key and the word ‘transition’ is also very important because it is happening everyday .

“I think the analogy is that if someone goes to sleep five years from today and wakes up, he will meet a completely different world; it is happening at a pace that is unimaginable.

“So, one of the things that led us to the choice of the 2022 theme are some of the things the president brought in during his tenure – like digitizing the NBA and making us more adept to the use of technology.

“For instance, payment of bar practising fees, payment for conferences and all, are now done electronically. And we saw the challenges that our members face in trying to keep up with this pace of advancement despite the convenience of using new ideas and technology.

“It became clear that these transitions are things we face everyday and we are not adapting to them as quickly as possible. That is it about the adjective ‘BOLD.’

“It is telling our people that this is how we have to approach it, that boldness is a catalyst for the type of change that we must face – and we must confront it boldly.” 

The TCCP Chairman observed that the legal profession has led change anywhere in the world, adding that it is a fresh call “to take the bull by the horns”

He noted that every activity at the conference “will have a BOLD imprint.”

BOLD VENUE
The Chairman said that the choice of Eko Atlantic City as venue for the conference, even though still under construction, “is a BOLD choice in many respects.”

BOLD KEYNOTE SPEAKER
According to Erojikwe, the TCCP picked Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as a Keynote Speaker, adding that it is a BOLD choice as she is one of the leading African icons in the world.

BOLD TECHNOLOGY
He said that to partner the discussion on Technology, “We chose to partner with META which is also a very bold choice, as Meta is one of the transformational companies you can get in the world. They are the owners of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. So it cannot come better than that.”

BOLD SESSIONS
According to the TCCP Chairman, one of the sessions at the conference involves the presidential candidates for the 2023 elections who have been invited to tell the legal community and Nigerians what their plans are.

His words: “So that’s how far as it goes; every bit of the conference is bold. 

“So, for example, after the keynote address which will take place on the Monday 22, August, we are going to have ‘Democratic Transitions in Nigeria: Focus on 2023 and beyond.’

“Everyone knows that oil and gas has been the main stay of Nigeria’s economy since 1973, so we are inviting the sub-nationals across the geographical zones in Nigeria to come and tell us what their plans for the future are and also get people from the Central Bank and economists to interrogate what is happening and where we need to get to.

“On that day of the conference, and for the first time in the history of the NBA, we will be having the current president of the NBA, the incoming NBA president and the last two predecessors-in-office join them on stage to talk to members of the NBA about the NBA.

“Indeed, it will be an interrogation of the performance of the current NBA President. We will have an opportunity to tell him what we think he got wrong and we expect that people will speak up – and then, of course, tell him what we also think he got right.

“But most importantly, it is to afford the incoming president an opportunity to outline his direction for the NBA and also give us an opportunity to tell him whether we think that is the direction he should be going.”

Erojikwe stated that the NBA Access to Finance scheme “is the first of its kind anywhere in the world and a remarkable initiative of the NBA President,” adding that NBA is interested in knowing if lawyers are able to access the funds as well as the challenges being faced.

He stated that the NBA Remuneration Report will be interrogated by the audience to provide insights for its implementation by NBA-NEC.

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EXCLUSIVE: ECNBA BARS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FROM ‘THE PLATFORM’ DEBATE

BY EMEKA NWADIOKE

The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has warned presidential candidates against participating in an “interactive session” scheduled for today by a The Platform Nigeria, saying the programme “does not meet with the approval of the ECNBA.”

In an email obtained by CITY LAWYER, the electoral body cited its earlier statement on the matter as well as provisions of the NBA Constitution (as amended), saying: “For the avoidance of doubt and as previously communicated to the Presidential Candidates, the proposed advertised interactive session for NBA Presidential Candidates organized by The Platform Nigeria, scheduled to hold on Sunday 19th July 2020, does not meet with the approval of the ECNBA.”

A source familiar with the operations of the electoral committee told CITY LAWYER yesterday that the committee had decided to deal decisively with the recurring issue of campaign debates, saying: “The committee will take a step to stop the recurrence of these issues. They are already working on something.”

CITY LAWYER had in its report noted the anxiety among Bar Leaders over the proposed interactive session, even as there were feelers that at least one of the presidential candidates had opted to shun the programme.

Below is the full text of the ECNBA email.

Dear Sir/Madam,

It has come to the attention of the ECNBA that Candidates in the NBA National Elections have been engaged in various forms of electioneering campaigns without regard to the provisions of the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended) and the guidelines set out by the ECNBA.

We would like to draw your attention to the provisions of the NBA Constitution, the ECNBA Election Guidelines and ECNBA Statement No. 014 which clearly prohibit any form of campaign, save for that which is provided for in the Constitution.

For the avoidance of doubt and as previously communicated to the Presidential Candidates, the proposed advertised interactive session for NBA Presidential Candidates organized by The Platform Nigeria, scheduled to hold on Sunday 19th July 2020, does not meet with the approval of the ECNBA.

We count on your usual understanding and cooperation as we strive to carry out a respectable and responsible electoral exercise for our dear profession.

Accept the professional regards of the ECNBA.

Cordelia U. Eke
Secretary

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‘THE PLATFORM’ CANCELS NBA PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

BY EMEKA NWADIOKE

SAYS ‘WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED ON ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS’

The Platform Nigeria has formally canceled its planned “interactive session” with Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential candidates in line with the disapproval of the programme by the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA). However, the promotional website for the aborted programme had not been pulled down at press time.

An email to prospective participants which originated from the Convener/Visioner of The Platform Nigeria, Pastor Poju Oyemade, gave no reason for the cancellation. He however assured participants that “We will keep you informed on any new developments.”

Oyemade, the avant-garde Pastor of the mega church, Covenant Christian Centre (CCC), had in an earlier tweet on his verified Twitter handle, invited the public to the now aborted presidential debate, saying: “This Sunday @theplatformnigeria will be holding interactive sessions with the three candidates for the post of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association. #nbadecides2020.” He has not tweeted on the cancellation at press time. The Platform Nigeria is a popular speaking podium which has hosted some of Nigeria’s leading technocrats including the Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

The ECNBA had in an email obtained by CITY LAWYER warned the presidential candidates against featuring in the virtual “interactive session,” saying it breached the NBA Constitution and “does not meet with the approval of the ECNBA.”

In response to the ECNBA directive, one of the presidential candidates, Mr. Olu Akpata formally withdrew from the interactive session, citing the email received from the electoral body. In a notice that trended on several social media platforms, he said: “Please note that in compliance with an email notice received from the ECNBA, Olumide Akpata will not be participating in the Platform interactive session billed for the 19th of July 2020 or any other debate or interactive session involving more any other candidate.

“We thank the organisers of the Platform interactive session for the work that they have put into organising the session, and hope that they and members of the public understand with us.”

It was unclear at press time whether the other presidential candidates issued any formal statements withdrawing from the programme, even as CITY LAWYER had reported that one of the candidates may have planned to shun the interactive session.

CITY LAWYER had predicted that the ECNBA would come down heavily on the aborted interactive session when it revealed plans by the electoral body to take decisive steps to stem what it perceived as serial disobedience to its earlier directives on campaigns.
Below is an email cancelling one of the planned sessions:

Poju Oyemade <no-reply@zoom.us>
9:01 AM (14 hours ago)
to (NAME)

Good morning,

The webinar “Join Deacon Dele Adesina SAN in an interactive session on his vision and plans for the Nigeria Bar Association” on Jul 19, 2020, 03:00 PM has been canceled.

The Platform Nigeria wants to thank you for registering. We will keep you informed on any new developments.

Thank you

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