South West gridlock…

The events of last week were particularly interesting, or at best exciting for members of the South West Lawyers Forum, known as the ‘Egbe Amofin;’ as the group took varied positions to adopt a candidate for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar, come August 2014; when the tenure of the incumbent, Okey Wali, SAN,  will come to an end.

The forum, which has been split over an ongoing internal leadership tussle, came to stalemate over the weekend as both splinter groups went separate ways; one to Lagos and the other to Ibadan to adopt a candidate.

However, whilst the Lagos group under the auspices of the Central Working/Steering Committee; with the inclusion of 15 NBA branch Chairmen, successfully adopted Former General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oladele Adesina, SAN as its preferred candidate from the South West, the Ibadan group met with resistance in this regard, and instead reached a resolution for reconciliation with the other faction, in the hope to amicably resolve the conflict between the parties. This resolution was signed by 12 branch chairmen, including Ilorin branch and two other newly created branches in the South West.

According to the group, it’s decision to go ahead and adopt a candidate was premised on a 2008 agreement reached by the elders of the Egbe Amofin, when they unanimously appealed to Adesina to step down for former President, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, during the elections, with a promise to be the preferred candidate when the office came back (in rotation) to the South West in 2014.

This promise has however posed a number of challenges for South West lawyers, including stiff resistance by other members of the Forum who have indicated interest to vie for the most important office in the bar, and has in fact torn the respectable body of Yoruba lawyers apart.

Speaking to Pressmen at the meeting, elected interim chairman, Adebayo Ayodele disclosed that 15 out of the 23 branches that make up the Southwest bar have adopted Adesina, while an additional two branches made a recommendation of him.

“We had directed Adesina in 2008 to step down for Chief Olarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). That meeting was chaired by Mr. Bamidele Aiku. If in 2008, Adesina obeyed us, why must we not keep to our words since he listened to us the last time?

“with these 15 branch Chairmen, we re-affirm our support and endorsement for the Dele Adesina as a candidate for the Presidency of the Nigerian Bar, thus, we charge him to continue to exploit all legitimate and realistic ways to sell his candidature, as soon as the bans on Campaigns are lifted by the current leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association.

He Continued: “We resolve to jointly and individually work hard to achieve the successful election of Adesina as the President of NBA come July 2014.”

Describing the ongoing parallel meeting in Ibadan, as unfortunate, Ayodele said, “We consider this state of affairs regrettable. Nonetheless, we believe the outcome of the Ibadan meeting today will convince the Chief Bamidele Aiku group that majority drives democracy and that there is the need to allow equity, fairness and justice to prevail in this matter.

“We resolve to extend our hand of fellowship to all and sundry with a view to unify the forum under the principle of equity, fairness and justice which are essential elements of democracy and rule of law,” he added.

It would be recalled that at an extra-ordinary General Meeting of Egbe Amofin members on the 7th of December 2013, Fifteen (15) NBA branch chairmen from the South West voted to oust the Aiku-led executive, and at the same meeting elected an interim ExCo to run the affairs of the forum

Explaining this incident, the interim executive said the Aiku-led leadership was “sacked” last year after the allegedly failed to attend the association’s duly adjourned meeting despite being invited by the chairmen.

“The interim executive committee was put in place after the Aiku team was sacked,” Ayodele said.

Other contestants for the position in the South West include, Aelex Partner, Funke Adekoya, SAN; Niyi Akintola, SAN and First Vice-president of the NBA, Osas Erhabor.