The continuous decay in the NBA system is a going concern and a drastic approach is needed to get back on the right route. Hobbled by severe capacity deficits often in the form of ‘’bowing to powers that be’’, deficits in leadership, inhibiting mindsets and weak institutions.

This has severely hampered the ability to implement existing policies and development strategies and build better institutions. The cost of these failures runs deeper, The former President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, while addressing the Ghanaian Parliament during a courtesy visit to Ghana in 2009, remarked as follows: “No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top, or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not a democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end. Africa doesn’t need strongmen; it needs strong institutions’’

Sequel to a publication on the 4th of February 2020 by Ewere Zion titled “The woes and falls of the usoro led administration” in which analyses were made on the current administration, it is noteworthy to see some of the steps taken afterwards. Like the setup of the welfare committee and the Notice dated 18th May 2020 emanating from the office of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association titled “NBA Abuja Branch 2020 Unified Elections” but, it will not be an easy push as strong oppositions will arise but good will always prevail over evil.

It is shocking to see the resurrection of Mr Abimbola Kayode who has personally, never addressed any branch or member issue on any dated publication, write a response on the notice by the office of the President. I guess he must have forgotten that the caretaker committee that brought him to power was appointed in such a controversial scenario.

Mr Abimbola asked ‘’when did you become aware of any faction in Abuja? How did you become aware of the faction given that the branch has since your administration been fully represented at NEC? who constitutes this faction that you now alluded to and on the basis of which you have proposed this Unified Elections?

He knows these are clearly rhetorical questions which the answers are either in his mind or cannot be answered by whom it is directed to.

He cited the provisions of Section 8 (5) (a) of the NBA Constitution 2015 as amended in 2019 forgetting that the committee set up by the president is in accordance to Article 11(a) of the 3rd Schedule in the same Constitution which provides

‘’ 11. Ad Hoc Committees

Caretaker Committee:
Shall be composed of at least three past Chairmen of the Branch (unless impracticable due to a recent founding of the Branch, in which case, at least one past Chairman and Secretary and, if not available, as composed by the President of the Association) and its duties shall be to take over and protect the property and estate of the Branch in the interim and forthwith arrange for the holding of an Annual General Meeting wherein officers of the Branch shall be elected
I am not here to compare both factions but to strongly emphasize my position on UNITY. We can no longer allow an individual’s selfish politics to destroy our institution. As a working system depends on the strength of the institution and not the individuals. Strong institutions are the cornerstone of a stable system. The NBA branches with strong institutions would be able to produce the essential elements of fully democratic operations.

This is a wake-up call to support the unified election and vote for the most credible candidate irrespective of the political affiliation. It is time to get things right and channel our energy into the right course. Those that have constituted themselves as ‘’the power that be’’ hear this and remember Daniel 2:21 – He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

Emmanuel Zion Ewere Esq —– President