Why The Bar Does Not Need NBA Career Politicians?

Pursuant to Section 9 of the 2015 NBA Constitution as amended, the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) does conduct periodic election, being a democratic association. Subsection (3) of the said Section 9 provides that for the purposes of election into National Offices, the country shall be divided into three zones as set out in the Second Schedule.

Article 2.2 of the said Schedule further states that (a) the Association shall for the purpose of elections of National Officers be divided into three geographical zones namely – Northern zone, Eastern zone and Western zone. (b) The positions of the President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, 3rd Vice President and General Secretary shall rotate among the three zones. In determining the eligibility of a candidate to contest for any of the rotated offices, regard shall be had to a candidate’s Geographical Zone of origin and not the geographical Zone where he/she carries on legal practice.

By all indications, it is the western zone’s turn to produce the NBA President. During the election year, candidates indicate their interest to run for positions of their choice; make a formal declaration, and campaign follows accordingly. It is the minimum expectation that anyone who is vying for any of the National offices of the NBA must be someone who seeks to promote the aims and objectives of the NBA as set out in Section 3 of the NBA 2015 Constitution.

The spirit of rotation in the NBA political structure is generally to create a balance and also incorporate members of the bar from their many ethnic divides into a unified body. No wonder, it deals with the Origin of the member and not necessarily where one practices. Not only so, it is aimed at giving others the opportunity to pilot the affairs of the body. However, recent developments show that the NBA is dominated by career politicians. This is evident on the fact that a good number of those who are indicating interest to run for various national positions are persons who have held positions either at the state or national level. And the way and manner in which some of them go about it suggests that there may be something that attracts them to those offices. Many may argue that there is no money in the NBA that will make them struggle for the positions, but not all will be convinced with that argument considering the juicy budget of the bar and the fact that those monies are controlled by principal members of the bar.

These lawyers have made the NBA look like a business. Infact, the attitude is such that they make it seems as if holding positions in the NBA is the only thing that keeps life going for them.

These lawyers have made the NBA look like a business empire. Infact, the attitude is such that they make it look as if holding positions in the NBA is the only thing that keeps life going for them.

This is a very bad precedent. NBA is not is to be run as a private business; it is not anyone’s private affairs. Lawyers must not see the NBA as a platform to make a living, but as a place to serve.

The bar must be watchful of such career politicians who do not mean well for the NBA. They are the ones who have polluted the NBA political atmosphere and make it wear the look of what is obtainable in the big scene where all kinds of political evils are perpetrated.

Service to the bar is sacrosanct, but it seems that only a group of familiar bar-men are so thirsty to drink this cup of service. Little wonder why the NBA presidency has been over the years tied to SANship by an unconstitutional convention, as if only learned silks have the capacity to lead the bar. There are also those who believe that there must be a track record of leadership at the bar for any member of the bar to be trusted with the National offices, especially the NBA presidency; that the person must have served at the branch level up to the National to be experienced enough to lead the bar in whatever capacity.

This belief does not go down well with some lawyers considering the fact that records have shown that even leaders who have held certain positions, previously, still fail in delivering services expected of their new offices. So, the argument of what does a candidate know about the NBA only becomes a sham. What a candidate needs to know about the NBA are the aims and objectives of the bar, set out at Section 3 of the NBA Constitution, and of course, have laid down policies on how to achieve them.

At this trying time in the history of the NBA, the association does not need career politicians, but persons who understand the needs of the bar and how to solve them. How can the independence of the bar and the bench be protected? What are the workable plans for the welfare of young lawyers? What plans are there for aging and sick lawyers? What are the suitable ideas that can move the bar forward and how can they be set on the map of a world-class body worthy of reference? Etc. Only those who can deal with these and many more beyond expectations can fit into the shoes. Track records of leadership are the key; not necessarily at the bar, but records that show that the said person can be an administrator with integrity if given the chance.

In all, lawyers must be watchful of career politicians. There are so many lawyers as members of the NBA with the ability to lead in various capacities. They should be given the chance to lead the bar. Perhaps, NBA may get it right when new hands other than the recycled hands are tasted.

Chike Okeke writes from US for TheNigeriaLawyer