Emeka Obegolu To ICMC Inductees: Use Skills Acquired To Strengthen Relationships And Build A Better Society

* We need to leverage with INEC to strive for free and fair process — Owei Lakemfa * Politics is not just about humans and powers; it involves a continues conflict management, Says APC National Legal Adviser, Babatunde Ogala * INEC cannot do everything — Dr. Bakut T. Bakut Owei Lakemfa, who is Former Secretary-General of the Organization of Africa Trade Union Unity (OATUU), has said that as professional mediators and conciliators, as well as Nigerians, the inductees of ICMC are expected to play leading roles in the 2019 forthcoming election, even though the dilemmas have been that they are neither third parties nor foreigners seeking to mediate in the process. Speaking on Monday, at the 2018 ADR Annual Conference of Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), on the theme: “The Mediation Dilemmas in Complex Emergencies: 2019 General Elections in Perspective”, Owei Lakemfa, aimed on how mediation process can be employed in such a way that Nigerians would be tolerant of political views and not engage in electoral violence. “We need to leverage with the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to strive for free and fair process so that aggrieved persons would not resort to violence. “We must be part of the solution to the recurrent emergencies our country is subjected to in the name of elections,” he said. APC National Legal Adviser, Babatunde Ogala, who was also one of the discussants said that the Constitution of the party made robust provisions for mediation process in resolving their inter-party disputes. He noted that it is actually provided that where possible, the people must go by consensus and where there is consensus it reduces the problem that arises. He emphasized the fact that the ADR mechanism needs to be introduced into the political arena. “It is actually provided that where possible, the people must go by consensus and where there is consensus it reduces the problem that arises. Before we proceed to litigation we must exhaust all remedies available in the dispute resolution mechanism. “In time past, we have set up some resolution committees. Politics itself is a continuous conflict-management-process: Politics is not just about humans and powers; it involves a continues conflict management. We use this mechanism to reconcile our differences. “APC has set up 6 major committees across the 6 Geo-political zones and these major committees have also been divided into other smaller bodies. APC has recognized the need for mediation,” he said. He also urged the president of ICMC, Mr. Obegolu, to get a proposal for the party on how a political process can be set up for conflict management (mediation and conciliation) in the party itself. Director of ADR, INEC, Mr. Clement Oha, who represented the INEC Boss, said that ADR in the Department of the Commission has been on for some period of time now, and so far, three units which resolve critical issues during the election has been created because the commission deemed it fit to have them. “We established first, the Legal Department, as a unit, but later the commission deemed it fit to make it a Directorate and right now, we have a director of ADR. It comprises of three units: inter-party unit that mediates between parties; intra-party unit that handles disputes and conflicts within a political party and the work place mediation. These units are critical in resolving most of the issues that developed during elections. “We have 5 lined-up activities and they are: awareness for political party agents, awareness for stakeholders including security and undisturbed mediation which takes place 3 days to the election and 2 days after the election, aimed at the demands that may arise in the course of election. We also have Mediation clinic. We intend resolving all political issues arising during election. After the clinic, we do what is called ‘collation and collection of disputes’ that followed the election. This is usually done about 20 days after the election when parties must have filed their election petition. We then analyze the election petitions to find out those areas. Speaking further, he added that the use of internal party dispute resolution mechanism is the best way to resolve issues within the political sphere. The Acting Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Bakut T. Bakut, noted that to achieve and to build a resilient structure that will coordinate peace, all hands must be on deck as an institution. “INEC cannot do everything. We have to work together as people, as institutions, as bodies to be able to resolve any complex emergency, during and after the elections. “The components that are usually expected in any structure for dispute mechanism as the election is coming are Traditional leaders, Community panels, Elders, privilege system for minority, which is specially for gender issue. ICMC should be engaged as well because they are a professional body. It has a role to play in terms of resolving conflicts and settling dispute without going to court, which is the area that we are talking about. On another facet, the President of ICMC, Mr. Emeka Obegolu, spoke among others, the AMCON Debt Recovery Case 2018. He noted that in a move that would enable Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) meet its recovery mandate before its sunset period, the duo of the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr. Walter Onnoghen, GCON and the President Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, CFR have called on AMCON to leverage the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) infrastructure, which is now available for use in courts in the country, adding that is the only way AMCON will recover as much debts as possible within its defined lifespan. “It is for these reasons, that I will encourage the use of ADR, as part of the mechanism put in place to resolve asset management related disputes in our courts,” he added. Mr. Obegolu also enlightened the attendees of the History of the Institute and the success so far. He also spoke on the direct admission to fellow of the institute, where he noted that the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators is offering non-members of the Institute the opportunity to undergo a two (2) day Special Fellowship Accreditation and Certification Course, leading to induction of successful candidates as Fellows of the Institute. According to him, the persons qualified to participate in this Special Fellowship Accreditation and Certification Course include the Serving and Retired High Court Judges, Khadis and Judges of Customary Courts of Appeal; Executive Directors and Heads of Public and Private Establishments/Enterprises; Serving Civil Servants on GL15 (Assistant Director) or above; Holders of a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), in any field; Holders of a Master’s Degree, in any field, obtained at least five (5) years preceding the year of application; Holders of a Bachelor’s Degree, in any field, obtained at least fifteen (15) years preceding the year of application and; Legal practitioners with a minimum of fifteen (15) years post call practice experience. He also charged the inductees to use the skills learned to strengthen relationships and build a better nation. “Our trainings have equipped you with knowledge, life skills and unique insight into how Mediation works. It is up to you now to utilize these skills in all aspects of your life; to strengthen your relationships, develop better work relations, build better families; and by extension, better societies. “This is only the beginning of your quest to ensure peaceful and harmonious coexistence in Nigeria, and the world beyond. You are therefore challenged by this induction and admission into the Institute to take up the gauntlet and support the efforts of the Institute to mainstream Mediation and Conciliation as the primary means for addressing disputes in Nigeria,” he said. The event was well attended by Traditional Rulers, Past and Present Governors, Senior Advocates of Nigerian, Judges, Director Generals of Organizations, Heads of Departments and so many distinguished personalities. Award of excellent  was given to some organizations while Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano,  HRH Brigadier General Iliya Aliyu Yammah Rtd, Etum Numana of Kaduna, His Excellency, Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Justice Nasir Ajanah, Chief Judge of Kogi State,  Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Sir Emeka Offor, Chairman of the Chrome Group, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Hon. Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, OFR, CFR, President of the Court of Appeal, Alhaji Ja’afuru Ahmed, Comptroller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service,  Hon. Justice Amina Augie JSC, His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, Governor of Bauchi State, Dr. Haliru Yahaya, Emir of Shonga  were  all conferred as honourary fellows of the Institute. Photos below ]]>