#NBAvotes #PostElectionCommentaries

 

• CHIKE AMOBI

 

“I believe that the post election silence of J-K Gadzama and AB Mahmoud is not completely holy. In fact, I daresay it is unusual.

 

It is usual and quite frankly a display of grace, that in a keenly contested election such as this, there are two events which MUST NECESSARILY happen for there to be a closure to the adversarial component of the electoral process. First is the phone call from the non-victorious party to the winner, congratulating him and assuring him of his unalloyed support. With further assurances that my people shall be your people. Et cetera. Et cetera. Next of course is the speech by the victorious candidate, an olive branch if you will, congratulating his opponent for a very efficient campaign and assuring him and HIS SUPPORTERS of an inclusive administration. These are very simple and selfless acts that go a long way to define the course of the association and set a progressive path for the new administration.

 

This is the time for the close aides of both parties to advice these great Senior Advocates of Nigerian on the need for post election courtesies. If it hasn’t happened already, it needs to. For the greater good of the bar. Happy Tuesday, Gentle Lawyers.”

 

• CHIDI ODINKALU ON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NBA ELECTIONS BEING ACRIMONIOUS

 

“Was there acrimony in this Election?

Well, elections are by definition divisive.

Do I believe there was acrimony here? No. There is no right to win an election.

Will people sulk over elections? Sure?

Was this election perfect? No.

Are there things we can improve? Yes.

But is this an improvement on where we are coming from? Quantum leap!

Progress has to be envisaged in increments not as a revolution!

 

• LUKA HARUNA ESQ.

“The declared result favours Mr. Abukakar Balarabe Mahmud, SAN as the new President of the BAR. As such he will have the onerous duty and mandate of leading us for the next two years. I therefore wish to congratulate him and all others for this achievement but most importantly I pray that God will grant him and his team the wherewithal to actualize the covenant they entered with the BAR and I enjoin all supporters of the J-KGadzama, SAN to do same. This is the rough and tumble of every election.

 

We can all be winners…if those who lost out will concede and congratulate the winners and the winners are magnanimous in victory…we will all be winners! If we build on the electioneering process started by the Alegeh led exco and continue to fine tune and refine same with a view of addressing all the glitches witnessed in the just concluded election. We will all be winners…if we consistently reinforce confidence in the integrity and independence of the managers of the e-voting portal. We can all be winners! If we so decide! Let us all be winners!

I neither voted nor campaigned for AB Mahmoud but he becomes my President from this day. I thank members of the Gombe branch for your unwavering support.

 

The unity of the BAR is stronger than any of our personal interest. As lawyers we must lead by example. The Alegeh-led ExCo has discharged its mandate to the Bar and we should continue to applaud them for breaking the ceiling. Thank you all.”

 

• JIBRIN SAM OKUTEKPA, SAN

“Congratulations to our president elect and all others. The Nigerian Bar Association has done well. We have shown commitment and dedication to the ‘Brave New Bar’ project and God has rewarded us. Congratulations to the Bar. Congratulations to every Nigerian lawyer.

 

• CHUKWUEMEKA EZEALA

 

Congrats to our President Elect, the entire Exco. Congrats to Alegeh SAN and Mazi Afam Osigwe for introducing us to universal suffrage.

 

 

 

• DESMOND YAMAH, CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SECRETARY

 

The fact remains that there is an EXCO in place now for the NBA. I want to appeal to all of us to look beyond the elections. There is one duty we owe to the Bar now, which is to pray for the new NBA Executive for a successful tenure in office as they aspire to build a ‘brave new Bar’ Thank you all for your support and God bless you.

 

 

• FELIX SHILO JIMBA

“I hope INEC learns a thing or two on how elections should be conducted from this NBA election.”

 

 

• CHIDI IFEONYE

“I voted for a brave new Bar and a brave new Bar we know have. Congratulations AB Mahmoud and all those who made this victory possible.”

 

 

 

• MOJIRAYO OGUNLANA-NKANGA

“The NBA should be applauded for taking this step. We should learn from history. This is a step we should have taken 10 years back. That we have finally progressed is a thing of joy. Now is the time to learn from the mistakes of the first to make subsequent elections better. #NoTimeForSentiments.”

 

 

• L. LIKKO

“Dear colleagues, we have had exciting times throughout the election sojourn, albeit some may not have believed in our ability to lead the bar (as God will have it we are now here, aiming at building #AbraveNewBar (ABM), but the presence of a very strong opposition is appreciated, without which the electioneering would not have been so qualitative and transparent as we have witnessed. You are all appreciated.

 

Election is a process that comes and goes, through which hard and serious decisions are made, as to selection or election of candidates and the declaration of the winner, idealy it should end at the end. Now that the NBA has decided, and its new leaders are elected, let us work together to ensure #ABraveNewBar. All should drop their arsenals that are meant for the battlefield and bring out their wisdom to be used in equitable distribution of the booty as well as ensuring the realisation and actualisation of the promises made while campaigning.

 

The NBA belongs to all of us, whichever camp one belonged to, during the politicking and electioneering, now the election is over, let us move back to base (The NBA) to promote and protect its sanctity, because we are all stakeholders in our own right, in the #BraveNewBar project.”

 

• TONY IROAGALACHI

“I congratulate NBA for a successful transition. Nigeria is the greatest beneficiary of this great achievement. Congrats to all of us.

 

“We can all be winners…if those who lost out will concede and congratulate the winners and the winners are magnanimous in victory…we will all be winners!

 

“If we build on the electioneering process started by the Alegeh led exco and continue to fine tune and refine same with a view of addressing all the glitches witnessed in the just concluded election. We will all be winners…if we consistently reinforce confidence in the integrity and independence of the managers of the e-voting portal. We can all be winners! If we so decide!

 

Let us all be winners!”

———————————