Nigeria Content Online

Thursday, July 29, was particularly hectic for media
correspondents in Ibadan. They were faced with two important national
assignments whose schedule were not quite definite.

Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) were in Ibadan for
the better part of last week for their first ever delegates congress, the
climax of the congress was Thursday when an election to produce a new set of
national officers was scheduled.

Also, former military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, was
billed to visit the town to launch his presidential campaign in the
Southwestern zone of the country.

After waiting for the self-styled evil genius for several hours,
only the former governor of Niger State, Abdukadri Kure, showed up to represent
him. And as if that was not enough disappointment, the NBA’s election scheduled
to have been concluded by 2.30 pm dragged till around 10.30 pm.

The extension was understandable, though. Long before the
elections were held, there had been palpable tension within the ranks of the
Bar over who succeeds Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as the NBA president. Mr.
Akeredolu was believed to have raised the Bar in the lawyers’ association
presidency with his brilliant and thought provoking contributions to national
issues during his two-year term.

He was not only loud in his comments on issues of national
importance, but on many occasions spoke against any government policies and
actions perceived to have contravened the provisions of the Nigerian
constitution. With this, the Bar was aware that whoever wanted to succeed him
must be ready and well equipped to keep the fire burning.

On the contest for the NBA presidency were Joseph Bodunrin Daudu
and Joe-Kyari Gadzama, both senior advocates and highly successful legal
practitioners.

They both paraded intimidating resumes that clearly made them
eminently qualified for the job.

But good quality is one thing, politics is another. To be
counted worthy, the two candidates did not only crisscrossed the length and
breadth of the country to solicit support and vote, they also employed the
services of foot-soldiers for further effect.

But after all the campaign and political maneuvering, the
Nigerian Bar entrusted the direction of its affairs in the next two years in
the hands of Daudu, late last Thursday, by giving him 781 votes, against 487
given to Gadzama.

However, long before the election, indications were rife that
the new president was the anointed candidate of the outgoing president.
Akeredolu himself confirmed his support for the new president, shortly after
the election. He told journalists that he had propelled Mr. Daudu, who was a
former chairman of the Kaduna branch of NBA, for the job owing to his sterling
qualities. According to him, though he has nothing against the other
contestant, he expressed high joy that his candidate won.

In the southwest where Akeredolu practices, lawyers within the
zone, under the aegis of Egbe Amofin, had risen from a general meeting to
pledge their total support for the candidate.

Also declared along Daudu are Blessing Emonena Ukiri, who won
the the 1st vice presidency with 483; Osas Justy Erhabor, the 2nd vice president,
winning with 447 votes; for the 3rd vice president, Ogugua Ikpeze won with 691
votes. Others are Oluwafunmilayo Oluyede, the new treasurer with 769 votes;
Olumuyiwa Akinboro, general secretary with 699 votes; Adekunle Ajasa as
financial secretary, with 679 votes; Sule Usman as welfare secretary, with 507
votes; Emeka Obegolu as publicity secretary, with 872 votes; Victor Chima
Nwaugo as legal adviser, with 709 votes; Stephen Terseer Abar, as 1st assistant
secretary with 617 votes; Paul Odah Ebiaia as 2nd assistant secretary, with 646
votes; and Augustine Obi Afam, who was returned unopposed as the 3rd candidate.

Hard battle

In his acceptance speech, Daudu described the election as a
“hard fought battle”, saying the process produced “no victor and no vanquished”.

Just before the result of the elections were formally declared,
members of the electoral committee, led by Obi Okusogwu (SAN), had a huge task
controlling the supporters of the new president, who already suspected that
their candidate was clearly leading.

The committee was forced to announce soon after the counting was
concluded, causing wild jubilation within the premises of Jogor Centre, where
the elections were held, and outside.

In consonance with the new system occasioned by the review of
the NBA constitution last year, the new national officers will be sworn-in at
the annual general meeting of the association, holding in August.