Nigeria Content Online

Should the
political class not clean up its acts during the upcoming elections,
Nigerians should opt for open protest rather than wait for judicial
decisions which might waste time and not ensure justice, President of
the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has said.

Mr. Akeredolu, who
said he was expressing his personal opinion and not that of the bar,
was the guest lecturer at a lecture series organized by the League of
Veteran Journalists, Oyo State, in Ibadan, on Wednesday.

In a lecture
titled “Leadership As Albatross: The Nigerian Experience”, the guest
lecturer explored the history of Nigeria from the time of amalgamation
to explain the country’s many problems as well as proffer solutions.

While emphasizing
the need to reform the electoral process for the next elections, he
explained that if the country could institute a mechanism that would
ensure credible elections, there would be no need for election
tribunals.

According to him,
politicians take Nigerians for granted by rigging elections and
manipulating election tribunals since the people have not been taking
serious actions against them.

“No amount of
tribunal can challenge election riggers. People should go to the street
and fight their cause, otherwise, the mess will continue. If elections
are rigged in 2011, people should go to the street to protest. There is
no other due process than that”, he said.

“Our recent
experience clearly shows that we are still far from achieving
greatness. What is of utmost importance and urgency now is the process
which will throw up the desired representatives of the people. Unless
the much anticipated electoral reforms become reality, we continue to
grope in the dark,” he said.

Support Jega’s appointment

The NBA boss
absolved President Goodluck Jonathan of any wrong doing in his manner
of appointing the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
chairman, Attahiru Jega, saying the appointment is in line with the
existing law.

Against the
argument from some quarters that the recommendation on the appointment
of INEC chairman in the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform was
breached, Mr. Akeredolu said the recommendation was yet to be ratified,
adding that the president made the appointment in consonance with the
law of the land.

Despite the much
celebrated pedigree of the new INEC boss, Mr. Akeredolu said Nigerians
should be cautious of jumping to the conclusion that Mr. Jega’s
leadership of the electoral body would give the country credible
elections.

He also said
advised the country to stop recycling leaders when the youth who are in
tune with the modern day realities abound for the jobs.

“To enable a
leader realize his set goals, ambition and objectives, he needs the
services of a crop of dedicated young men and women with vision and
high sense of imagination, not discounting the invaluable experience of
the veterans in all relevant fields of human endeavour. He must lead a
team that is articulate and full of initiative,” Mr. Akeredolu noted.