INSECURITY: IS OLUMIDE AKPATA-LED NBA PRESIDENCY ON"SHORT REST?"

 THE SQUIB EDITORIAL

To say Nigeria is now on the brink of a full-blown war is an understatement. From the shooting war in the South-East of Nigeria to killing of students of Greenfield University in KADUNA State in Northwest , the Banditry in the North-Central and the persistent terrorism in the Northeast , things have actually fallen apart.

An assumption that lawyers and their Association, the Nigerian Bar Association with the Judiciary sector is immune from these developments is an understatement. The recent attack of a Federal High Court Building in Abakaliki , Ebonyi State is just a reminder.

What is shocking is the disposition of the Mr. Olumide Akpata-led Presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association to all these ugly developments. There has been no response in form of statements or activities. Indeed , one is forced to ask whether the Olumide-Akpata Presidency is on a "short rest" ala President Muhammadu Buhari when he was on his widely condemned London medical trip while Doctors are on strike in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Bar Association is the foremost civil rights organisation in Nigeria and it must come to the fore at this period to intervene on the State of the Nation. THE SQUIB is of the view that the Olumide Akpata-led Presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association should call an Emergency National Executive Committee, possibly by Virtual means to discuss the position of the Association on the chaotic State of the Nation. 

The Emergency NEC will be also be a veritable platform to also discuss the next steps in the struggle for financial autonomy of the Judiciary. After the commendable directive to all Chairmen of Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association to pay visits to their respective Governors in their states on Mondays starting from Monday, 19th April , 2021, there is need for monitoring of compliance by Branches on subsequent Mondays .

THE SQUIB observes that apart from the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Branch, there were no reports of other Branches repeating the visit to the Governor on Monday, 26th April, 2021. To win the demand for financial autonomy, it is important that more physical visits and mass  actions are made to the Governors. The Olumide Akpata-led NBA Presidency should rise to the occasion and provide the much needed leadership.