In a recent symposium held on the 23rd of April, 2020 by the administrators of the 'Learned Friends Club', a Whatsapp online media platform created by Olajide Abiodun Esq, the 5th of April 2020 . The purport of the talk was to elicit from all available aspirants into various Nigerian Bar Association National offices what they think about the roles and responsibilities of the offices they aspire into. More particularly, to share their recommendation on the recommendation on how those roles can be achieved with a practical approach.
The virtual symposium was organized by a handful of Lawyers with keen interest in the quality of solutions aspirants into the various NBA National elective positions seek to proffer to daunting challenges in the context devoid of campaign material of opportunity.
Here attached are the grand rules of the Private Whatsapp by the Administrators;
"Profound greetings learned seniors and colleagues. I welcome you to LEARNED FRIENDS CLUB. This is a group set up primarily for the purpose of interfacing and interacting with all aspirants/contestants for the various offices of the NBA National.
They will all be given ample opportunities to avail us their campaign materials, manifestos, profiles, as well as plans for the Bar.
Note also that joinders and rejoinders, as well as reactions and counter reactions to issues which arise outside the group are not allowed. The group is not a place to settle perceived scores. Members are encouraged to take advantage in promoting their preferences. Please resist the urge to throw jabs at others here.
The admins reserve the right to sanction defaulters.
Everyone is free to ask any or all aspirants/candidates any question bothering on any issue of the Bar.
PS: avoid unnecessary use of media files. Where a media file is used, it must be captioned appropriately.
Enjoy your stay.
Admin.
RULES GUIDING LEARNED FRIENDS CLUB
All members are to adhere strictly to the rules as follows in bullet points.
PROHIBITED CONTENTS.
1. CAMPAIGN IS NOT ALLOWED. (NO MATTER THE STYLE AND PATTERN) SAVE UNTIL THE 31ST DAY OF MAY 2020.
2. INSULTS, DEROGATORY STATEMENTS, INNUENDOES, AND ANY INCIVILITY IS PROHIBITED.
3. MEMES, AND STICKERS ARE NOT ALLOWED SAVE UNTIL THE 31ST DAY OF MAY 2020
4. MESSAGES NOT RELATED TO THE PURPOSE OF THE GROUP IS PROHIBITED
5. UNHEALTHY ARGUMENTS SEEKING TO DISPARAGE A(NY) CANDIDATE IS PROHIBITED.
6. ANY OTHER POST/COMMENTS AS THE ADMINS MAY DEEM FIT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE UNHEALTHY.
7. LINKS OF ANY KIND ARE GENERALLY PROHIBITED POSTS THAT ARE PERMISSIBLE.
1. A PICTURE OF YOUR PREFERRED CANDIDATE WITH THE PREFERRED WORDS YOU WISH TO ASCRIBE TO SAME. (THIS WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED FROM 9PM TONIGHT THE 7TH DAY OF APRIL 2020 AND ENDS 12PM 8TH DAY OF APRIL 2020. A WEDNESDAY. THEN SHALL PICK UP AGAIN FROM 1ST DAY OF JUNE 2020 TILL ELECTION IS OVER.
2. THE GROUP IS MEANT FOR A ONE ON ONE CIVIL INTERACTION WITH ASPIRANTS (OR THEIR CAMPAIGN MANAGERS WHERE THE ASPIRANT IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE), AT ANY DAY AND AT ANY TIME ON ISSUES BOTHERING ON THE DELIVERY OF THE RULE OF LAW AND THE WELFARE OF ALL LAWYERS AS IT AFFECTS THEM. AND HOW THEY INTEND TO ACHIEVE SAME. FURTHER QUESTIONS SHOULD BE PREMISED ON THEIR PROFILE AND THEIR RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS POSED.
3. EACH ASPIRANT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO RESPOND TO MINIMUM OF 10 AND MAXIMUM OF 15 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE GROUP AS A WHOLE So friends of Aspirants should synergise on the questions to be asked. And a member can't ask more than 1 question. Questions to be responded to will be marked by the admins if same exceeds 10/15 as the situation permits.
THE GROUP SHALL BE CLOSED DURING THE SESSION TO ALLOW ASPIRANTS ENGAGE US VISAVIS THEIR PROFILE IN BRIEF AND THEN SAME WILL BE RE OPENED FOR QUESTIONS. AFTER THE QUESTIONS ARE MARKED TO BE ANSWERED, THE GROUP SHALL BE CLOSED AGAIN TO ENABLE THE ASPIRANTS RESPOND UNHINDERED.
LONG LIVE NBA.
ADMINS........."
Here below is the excerpt of the presentation discuss of Mr. Adedotun Habeeb Adetunji, an aspirant into the office of the 1st Vice President, NBA.
"Gentlemen of the Bar, learned Seniors and all noble colleagues. I am Adedotun Habeeb Adetunji Esq.
It is indeed a rare privilege to be on this platform, a well thought out initiative, first of its kind. I thank the initiators of this idea for a job well done. The audience too has been very wonderful for their interest and comportment so far.
God willing, I hope to be a contender in the next Nigerian Bar Association National Elections for the post of the 1st Vice President and I am aware that ban on campaign is yet to be lifted but I decided to partake in this interactive session on the basis that I would not in any way campaign.
Let me assure you that when it is time to campaign, you will all be overwhelmed with what is in stock for you; but I will restrain myself at this time and I do hope you will understand.
My profile has been uploaded on this platform and I am ready to interact with you on same. I am 25 years old at the bar with vast experience in diverse fields of law, including but not limited to the corporate world, Government and Community service.
As a former Branch Chairman NBA Ikorodu who has held several positions within the NBA circle and a current NEC representative of the same Branch, I am vast with the workings of the NBA and I am confident that I can serve at its highest level.
The office of the First Vice President acts in the stead of the President when occasion demands. Overseeing the affairs of Branches assigned to the 1st Vice President to handle, encouraging new branches to spring forth in the jurisdiction assigned to the 1st Vice President; which will be a task most interesting to venture into. As an individual, I love progressive challenges and hope to achieve a lot unprecedented giving my antecedents. The duty of the 1st Vice President of the NBA by the byelaw is herewith reproduced to serve as a guide to the basic duties:
DUTIES OF THE 1ST VICE PRESIDENT:
The 1st Vice President:
i. Shall in the absence of the President preside at all meetings in which the President is empowered to preside by the provisions of this Constitution.
ii. Shall be responsible for the coordination of the activities of the group of Branches as may be assigned to him/her by the National Executive Committee or the President and shall pay periodic visits as necessary and/or required to the Branches so assigned to him/her and shall make periodic reports to the National Executive Committee on such visits.
iii. Shall encourage and supervise the formation of new Branches within his/her zonal supervisory jurisdiction in line with the guidelines set out in this Constitution.
iv. Shall perform all other duties as he/she may be directed by the President or the National Executive Committee or the Annual General Meeting or which the President is unable to perform owing to his ill health, old age, absence from the country or any other reason.
No doubt the duties of the 1st Vice President are enormous; the Constitutional responsibilities imposed on the position are in pari materia with that of the President especially when the President is unavailable. In that circumstance the occupant of the position must be a person of high pedigree, competence, resourceful, result oriented and with outright ability to lead.
A would be occupant of this position must be prepared to act as the President, which means that he must in actual fact possess the qualities of a Presidential candidate, be focused, have plans and mode of executing same in case and I say, just in case he would actually have to act as the President. It has happened in the past but no one prays for any eventuality.
An occupant of the post of the 1st Vice President must be vast in so many areas of the law including, but not limited to mediation skills. I singled out mediation skills because, for him to supervise the would be Branches of the NBA assigned to him/her which I am very sure, if it were to be in the West, he would have the task of resolving several conflicts within individuals, branches and even the regional body. Knowledge of law only without mediation skill is likely to easily derail such occupant of the Vice President’s office.
An overview of the duties of the First Vice President's duties reveals that he is not in charge of the Human Rights Committee as obtainable at the branch level but if you ask me, I will still say that there is a lot to do if it really has to be done well.
An interested and capable 1st Vice President who is politically sound with good human nature to warm himself into people's mind inclusive of that of the President can still find himself doing what he has to do in terms of Human Rights, and being at the forefront of doing things that will benefit the young Lawyers whom I will term vulnerable in this profession.
So many factors are militating against the young lawyers in this profession, most of which are coming from the lawyers and the umbrella body which seems not to be helping matters. A general relief from the umbrella body on fees payable by young lawyers to it in terms of practicing fees, stamp rate, conference fees, etc. will go a long way in ameliorating their sufferings. I was once a young lawyer and I know what I passed through but I make hay to say that the earlier this profession realise that the young lawyers are the future of it and it gives them the required priority in form of employment, good salaries, quality continuing education, etc, the better for it.
Words only cannot do this; action must follow.
Corrigendum* Constitution not byelaw
A good leader as it were must be able to listen to his followers, living honestly with integrity, exhuming confidence to inspire team members and colleagues. This office is one deserving of a candidate with a high level of commitment, Passion with a culture of accountability and ability for good decision making. These virtues are the hallmark of good leadership.
-Why is it that not all branches are viable?
-Creating branches is not enough, supervising branches without healthy competitions within the zones aren't the best.
-The three vices are the eyes and ears of the President in their respective zones, healthy competitions to wit: best Branch award, best law week award et al should be encouraged for viability.
- NBA Human Rights institute should be reactivated.
-The Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) prize for social justice inaugurated about 10 years ago which has regrettably been in a state of suspended animation ought to be resuscitated.
-What is Nba, the umbrella body of Lawyers in Nigeria giving back to its members? Is it not time to start thinking of how members will benefit well from the NBA? What can Nba do in terms of giving its members freely, once the practicing fee is paid, Stamps, Diaries, Lapel pins, Ties etc.
-I envisage a proactive President emerging for the NBA. A President who will be able to place the Nba in its right place in the scheme of things in Nigeria. A President that will return the lost voice and glory of the NBA to it. This surely will be a new era, I am very much optimistic about it.
Lastly, a handful of learned friends on this platform are my friends outside the space of politics. For those I am just about to meet here, I want to use this medium to acknowledge that this is a rare privilege for me to meet others outside my usual circle and I hope to have a fruitful interaction with you all. I am opened to entertain questions and deliberations privately even when my session here is over. More circles of learned friends to make the Nigerian Bar Association greater! Thank you."
Note,at the end of each session of the talk show for aspirants, the floor is opened for a session of question and answer guided yet by another set of rules herewith replicated;
"Always remember!
In a bid to have a smooth process, we wish to appeal to our distinguished Aspirants to refrain from using words that may be interpreted as campaign. Words such as "I will...", "I can...", "We will...", Etc should be avoided.
Consequently, all questions to be put forward to the Aspirants must be devoid of such tendencies as to push them into using some of the above statements that have been termed inappropriate.
All questions should be geared towards seeking the opinions and possible solutions to issues and problems currently bedeviling our dear Association and the Nigerian society for which we seek to promote the rule of law.
Questions relating to the workings of a particular office for which an aspirant has indicated interest in, may be asked. However, the Aspirants should not be asked what he/she will do.
For example, an aspirant for the position of the Asst Publicity Secretary may be asked "what do you think an occupier of the office of the Asst Publicity Secretary can do in a given situation".
Never ask "what will you do?" Or "what can you do?"
Thank you.
Admin"
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