Bar Forum Election: NBA Urged Others to Emulate EBF
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has endorsed the election of new officers of the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF), describing it as a model for others to follow.
Also, the Arewa Lawyers Forum and Egbe Amofin, have commended the EBF for the election of the new Exco.
The EBF penultimate week Tuesday in Calabar, elected new members of its governing council to run the affairs of the forum for the next two years.
The newly elected members are Chairman of the Governing Council, Chief Arthur Elvis Chukwu, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Anthony E. Okorodas, Secretary, Mr. Paul S.T. Ubom, Treasurer Mr. Egbunonu Emmanuel, Financial Secretary Mr. Joe K. Berebon, Publicity Secretary Georde l. Fortune, Asst. Secretary, Mr. Damian O. Nosike while Mr. Ogunji. C. Kingsley and Augustine I. Owo, are members
Speaking on the election, NBA President, A. B. Mahmoud, SAN said EBF has been and remains at the forefront NBA fora.
Mahmoud, who was represented at the event by NBA 3rd Vice President, Mr. Ben Oji said, “The EBF has been and remains at the forefront our fora. It is the most organised NBA forum; that is why EBF was the first to be consulted, when the Mid-West Bar Forum was nurtured.
“This is a model for others to follow, it is good in structure, and almost everybody is here, and every other forum is represented here. We must not always agree, but as lawyers, we must always show leadership”.
In his good will massage, the Assistant Secretary of the Arewa Lawyers Forum, Mr. T. T. Hyndu said: “This is the best election I have ever seen. We have a lot to learn from the EBF and if you sustain this practice, then sky will be your limit.
Secretary of Egbe Amofin, Mr. Ranti Ajeleti said: “We bring greetings from our members Egbe Amofin. And we thank you, for the honour and respect done to our Chairman, Chief Bandele Aiku, SAN, when he changed from mortality to immortality. Ironically, it is at death that he would answer his name, because Aiku in Yoruba language means immortality, thus he had all along borrowed the name.
“The import of your invitation to us at this trying time of the Nation’s history is germane, and we can derive much utility value from the meeting,even more than it is intended, in solving our problems as a country. Initially we had one national body, and along the line, our elders thought that the centre would find it difficult to man our growth.
“As we now have 100 branches of the NBA and if a branch is on fire, it would have burnt to ashes before Abuja could bring in its fire fighters. Our elders therefore, formed the regional bodies to take care of our peculiarities. The Eastern Bar Forum to take care of the East. The Arewa Lawyers Forum, takes care of the North and the Egbe Amofin, takes care of the West.
“In fact, it is the peculiarity of the West that it calls itself Egbe in Yoruba language. Egbe means a group union or better still league (League of Nations), while Amofin means Lawyer. Thus, Egbe Amofin is the Union of Lawyers or League of Lawyers. In our own little way, Egbe Amofin has succeeded in resolving many local problems, without necessarily involving the national body.
“The idea behind the formation of Regional bodies, is reminiscent of creating a federal union where all the federating states and regions, will have equal stake and each federating state will have the opportunity to develop along her peculiarities, values and socio-economic needs.
“Thus the current divided opinion on the future of Nigeria, would not have arisen if we had followed the principle of federalism as propounded by Prof. K. C. Wheare, and as further amplified by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, in his celebrated Book ‘’Path to Nigerian Freedom”, Ajeleti said.