#National Political Reforms Conference (NPRC)

[premimtimes]

Matthew Hassan Kukah: Nigeria’s bishop, By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

Matthew Hassan Kukah: Nigeria’s bishop, By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

The Pope may have appointed him to the Diocese of Sokoto but Kukah easily forged a role as Nigeria’s Bishop. He always accepted the priestly vocation as one of public service in which the altar is a mere platform and the country is his congregation. There was a time when the church was very powerful…. Things are different now. The contemporary church is so often a weak, ineffectual voice with an…

[edisonashley]

SETTING THE BAR ON THE RIGHT PATH: WHO THE CAP FIT, LET HIM WEAR IT

By Adeke Aondongu Abel, Esq., LL.M

In less than 48 hours from now, lawyers in Nigeria will be electing a new set of leaders to run their affairs under the umbrella of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) for the next two years and the office of the President of the NBA is one of them.

The process will no doubt presents another opportunity for lawyers to yet elect leaders particularly a president who will address the many challenges that are bedeviling the legal profession in Nigeria.

There are three eminent members of the NBA who have indicated interest to be the number one officer of the Association. Amongst these men, there is only one man who is eminently experienced and qualified to lead the NBA having served as the Publicity Secretary, the Secretary and Chairman Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch at various period.

He was also elected as the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association in the year 2002 after putting up a sterling performance at the branch leadership level.

It is also very interesting to note that this particular man has also occupied vital positions outside the legal profession, some of which are; Former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Ekiti State University, 2017-2018; Member Governing Council Lagos Multi-Door court (LMDC) of the High Court of Justice, Lagos State; Member Governing Council, Covenant University Ota, Ogun State; Member National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2005; Former Member Appointment and Promotion Committee Board of Regent Covenant University; Former Secretary the Living Faith Church Deacons Assembly.

He is also a life member, of the Distinguish Body of Benchers – the highest Regulatory Body for the Legal Profession; member of the International Bar Association and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Nigeria to mention but a few.

It is pertinent to note that in all the positions he has occupied, he has exhibited quality leadership and uncommon capacity and has never been found wanting in anyway whatsoever. That person is no other person than Julius Oladele Adesina, SAN popularly known as Dele Adesina, the Principal Partner of Dele Adesina LP.

His capacity to lead the Bar has been severally attested by well meaning members of the NBA. On his competence and credibility a well respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria J.S. Okutepa had this to say about Dele Adesina, SAN: “NBA president must be a lawyer of impeccable credibility with proven records of previous national and international services to the Bar. He must be a team player with vast knowledge of the internal workings of the NBA and legal profession. After a very careful analysis of those aspiring to lead the Bar as president of NBA, I see Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN as the only person with such credentials that is why I stand with and support Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN aka DASAN for NBA president 2020-2022!

Another respected learned silk, D.D Dodo; SAN had this to say on Dele Adesina, SAN: “You have the capacity, institutional memory and clout to provide us leadership now”.

These brilliant submissions on Dele Adesina by revered Learned Silks were further collaborated abd aptly appreciated by another respected learned colleague Chinenye Anoka when she enunciated with an Igbo proverb thus:

“What the elders see sitting on the floor, the young can never see even when they climb the tallest palm tree”. There are reasons why it seems that all those who were there and saw when the NBA really worked desire to see DASAN at the helms. This is not about Seniors v. Juniors. I tell you that anyone who tries to create a dichotomy between the juniors and the seniors does not love the NBA. DASAN is a man who cares deeply for the profession, its young members as much as he respects the tradition of the Bar. I am with D. D. Dodo SAN on this. Wouldn’t you rather join DASAN to make the NBA better for all?”

Renowned human activist and Learned Silk Femi Falana also had this to say on the competence and credibility of Dele Adesina, SAN; “though not a radical in the pure sense of the word, Adesina is a solid liberal, a man of character, undoubted pedigree and experience, whose doggedness and assiduousness in the pursuit of the NBA’s core objectives make him a natural choice for the association’s leadership at a time like this.”

Most of the branch officers who served during his tenure as the General Secretary of the NBA have also attested to his productivity and competence.

He is indeed a personality “who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way” which is the attributes of a quality leader as opined by John C. Maxwell.

There is no doubt therefore that the exalted cap of the NBA fits Deacon Dele Adesina and I am therefore calling on all legal practitioners to support him to wear it for the betterment of the Bar as succinctly captured in the words of respected Learned Silk Chief Yomi Aliu, SAN “ I support the best by far, Dele Adesina, SAN!”

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[oswald-hanciles-posts]

THE OSWALD HANCILES COLUMN(July 4th 2019)

Let us learn! Wilo, observers since the 80s to the time I quit journalism, rated FDP as the most fearless, consistent, uncompromising newsp aper in the history of Salone. And of course, the most persecuted journalists, including martyr Yansaneh who was killed by the SLPP. To be a journalist and gain a reputation amongst all journalists within and outside Salone, demands a lot of sacrifice, commitment and selflessness. No politician of whatever colour or dispensation, can claim to had bribed me, including our former prezo, or any other APC politician for that matter. What in Salone? Where everything is corruption? Started civil society organisations in 96, after FDP organised the first international peace conference bringing the whole country together at City Hall. Also played a pivotal role to end the rebel war and bring the rebels out of the bush to talk peace. So I am the harbinger of peace not only to the APC but the country. Brought the Wellington Muslim Association together and provided a vast land to become the largest islamic organisation in the entire country with 65 jamaat. Played a leading role in organising and working with the womens movement including Madam Zainab Bangura to stand up for democracy. And it was this great Salone woman who together with the US Embassy, eventually convinced me to join Bio for the sake of democracy. And it took four days to consent and subsequently survived an assassination attempt. The only Salonean to confront the entire judiciary to become the reference point for seditious and defamatory libel laws in the entire Commonwealth countries, including Salone. That's not a feat many politicians could afford to risk life and limb for the people and the common good. Also confronted successive parliaments and equally faced their wrath and venom in the struggle for Seperation of Powers. The only other journalist to suffer so, is Comrade Shekito who was locked up for a month for an alleged contempt which was a hoax to jail the poor man. I stood by him all the way. To confront all the regimes since Shaki to date, qualifies me amongst few Saloneans, who actually know the system proper and the solution to the problem. In short, I am the No 1 defender of people's rights in Ma Salone compared to any politician whatsoever. Perhaps also, the only politician who has fought for the youths, women, drivers, teachers, musicians, traders, market women and other various unions and youth groups. And without profit. Nobody has told truth to power and made selfless sacrifice for this country, more than of course, you know very well. In short Wilo, I have seen it all more than most Salonean politicians. And one of the most experienced, sincere and honest. He who confronts it, knows the system better than any elite politician enriched by the system. And they know they can never change it bcos they are the very behemoths that prop up this negative sustem of dog eat dogism. Not only that, they had never challenged the rotten system. Take for instance after Bio overthrew Strasser. I will tell you that all my cabinet colleagues, including Samura, Barrie and Sam wanted khaki continuity in civilian clothing. I was the only one that confronted the NPRC 2, and I paid the price. I also refused Bio's salary. And I also did not take any part in what they shared. And I also did not take a single land, when I could've taken hundreds of acres of land and be rich, especially looted under junta. But I refused all enticements, and to block them, I promulgated a decree that placed a moratorium on the sale and lease of all state lands. Which also angered them like hell. Only politicians that don't dance, can bring about the necessary changes and bring about the positive changes we all desire for Ma Salone after 2023 victory. And a new and different way of doing things bcos dis tem, orinch go born orinch en lem sef go born lem. The problem with many of our members, especially the young ones, is that they don't know or understand men and things in politics, and are easily carried away by greed, opportunism and sycophancy. There is no APC politician that stands close to my resume as a freedom fighter, whose credentials can easily beat Bio. And the only one that confronted him for democracy. Infact, not one APC politician has ever stood up or champion the cause of the worker, teacher, students, grassroots etc than myself. And if we fbs say we are democrats and pro poor, then this time, let us all show our credentials and let the party decide. Nobody should pass through any selection process, if we want to win! And we must win big even though, we are battling against the most autocratic leader in the entire history of our nation. Wilo, I offered space to NRM bcos we first tossed the idea with Jarra and Kasho, but the party thought otherwise. We must help the youths organise and grow to help promote the much-needed party reforms we all so desire. Now let me tell you my constituency. They are the rebel, d sobel, d kolonko and d kalanka including d ex-combatants. They are the APC Task Force, Friends of the Dead, Black Street and many others scattered in ghettos and other places including those in the south east. I am also a veteran and son of the APC who shines like the sun itself and the 'mynia' or light of a liberated, pro poor and grassrootd APC. In short ar don pas journalism, but it taught me that we can make things better with a strong political will. All those politicians and civil servants and others I worked with, knows my position when it comes to matter that have to do with the development of Ma Salone. ☝🏾Paul Kamara in SLAVE SHIP-FREEDOM SHIP Group 4-Youth forum Hon. Paul Kamara: Minister of Sports in the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma(2012 to 2018); Minister of Lands and Environment in the government of President Brigadier Maada Bio(1996); Publisher of For Di People newspaper: Blow your own horn if people forget to blow it for you. No one has yet challenged you that you have told lies in your regular biographical postings on social media. Can you please be clear: what is the purpose of your blowing your trumpet at this point in time? Another question: Can you publish on social media your articles, or, editorials in your For Di People newspaper, that show your critiques or criticisms of the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma between November, 2007 and March, 2018? Again: break your postings into short paragraphs. You want to be read, not so? It's disgraceful for a veteran celebrated journalist like you to write such long paragraphs - what any editor worth his salt would scream at a rookie reporter for.

I pause,

Oswald Hanciles, The Guru. July 4, 2019 11:42 hours in Freetown, Sierra Leone