Candidates contesting various national offices in the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association general election on Saturday 11 July intensified their campaigns at the quarterly meeting of the Eastern Bar Forum held in Owerri, Imo State.
The meeting, held at Villa Garden Hotel, provided the aspirants with an opportunity to deliver goodwill messages, outline their programmes and solicit the support of members of the Eastern Bar Forum.
Leading presidential candidates Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN; Lateef Yemi Akangbe, SAN; and Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, SAN, featured prominently during the campaign session.
Akinboro, who was present until the time allowed for goodwill messages, was represented by Kazim, SAN, alongside members of his campaign organisation, who appeared in branded campaign face caps.
Speaking on his behalf, Kazim described Akinboro as a consummate Bar man who had served the Nigerian Bar Association in several capacities.
He also highlighted Akinboro’s involvement in the introduction of the NBA stamp-and-seal policy, which was designed to check the activities of impostors and protect the integrity of the legal profession.
The representative said Akinboro would bring extensive experience to the management of the Association and pledged that his administration would operate an inclusive Bar that accommodates lawyers from all sections of the country.
Badejo-Okunsanya, popularly known by her campaign identity, “Mrs B” or “Bold,” commended Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, for his leadership, courage and commitment to the progress of the Bar.
She also thanked the leadership and members of the Eastern Bar Forum for the reception accorded her and expressed gratitude for the safety of all candidates throughout their nationwide campaign activities.
Addressing the gathering, Badejo-Okunsanya reeled out programmes she said would form the core of her administration, with particular emphasis on the welfare and professional development of lawyers. She promised to strengthen welfare support for members, improve access to affordable health insurance, provide greater assistance to lawyers experiencing financial or medical difficulties, and promote initiatives aimed at improving the working conditions of young lawyers.
She further pledged to encourage continuous legal education, digitalise essential NBA services, improve communication between the national body and the branches, and create more professional and economic opportunities for lawyers across the country. According to her, her administration would run an inclusive and responsive Bar in which the concerns of young lawyers, senior practitioners, female lawyers and members in smaller branches would receive adequate attention.
In a lively moment that drew applause from the audience, Badejo-Okunsanya rendered the popular song, Obata Obie Okwu, to the delight of her supporters, many of whom were dressed in her campaign’s signature “Bold Face” caps.
Akangbe, popularly associated with the “Elevate the Bar” campaign, was received with enthusiastic cheers from his supporters as he addressed the gathering dressed in traditional Isi Agu attire.
He spoke extensively about his commitment to the welfare of young lawyers, recalling that, during his tenure as Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, he introduced a palliative scheme to support younger members of the profession.
Akangbe said the greater resources and national reach available to the President of the Association would enable him to expand welfare programmes for lawyers across the country.
The campaign session also featured aspirants contesting for the offices of Assistant Publicity Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Welfare Secretary, General Secretary and NBA representative to the General Council of the Bar.
The General Secretary candidates who addressed the meeting included Barth Okoye Aniche, Afam Okeke, Dr Rapulu Nduka, Okey Ohagba and Chidi Ezenwafor.
The aspirants promised to modernise the NBA secretariat, improve service delivery to lawyers and promote standards of excellence in the administration of the Association.
At the conclusion of the campaign presentations, Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, urged all candidates to conduct their campaigns peacefully and to place the unity of the Bar above their individual ambitions.
He reminded the contestants that only one candidate could emerge victorious for each office and encouraged them to accept the eventual outcome of the election in the spirit of sportsmanship.
Ahamba also warned against actions capable of dividing the Association, stressing that the Nigerian Bar Association must remain united before, during and after the election.
The quarterly meeting ended on a colourful note, with the different campaign organisations interacting with members of the Eastern Bar Forum and renewing their appeals for support ahead of the election.
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