My dear Senior Colleague, Elder brother and close friend
Longwill… NBA elections will come and go and we will remain.
It is however, not correct to say that we (as PH Branch) never
met to decide anything before the Chairman of the branch commits
the branch in anyway. True there are situations where the Chairman
in his capacity as Chairman takes a position on behalf of the
branch, but on important issues like this he must consult and
convene a meeting even if of only EXCO.
Senior Longwilliams, I have also served the branch in several
capacities prominent among them being Assistant Secretary and
Publicity Secretary, I have been a member of the EBF from inception
to date, I was among those who represented PH Branch during the
administration of E.C Aguma, Esq. (as he then was) Chairman of PH
Branch to the EBF meeting where the first Constitution of the EBF
was considered and the contentious issue of whether membership of
the forum would be on individual basis or on Branch basis was
tabled.
The delegation met at Manuchim Chambers, office of our leader
O.C.J Okocha, SAN, the night before and took a position before we
embarked on the journey. I have also been privileged to be a
delegate in the NBA presidential elections. It was indeed the
practice that before any EBF meeting, and any other important
meeting for that matter, members of the Expanded EXCO and Elected
officers met at OCJ’s office to take a position which is then
canvassed by our Chairman as the position of the branch.
By God’s grace I have been in the Expanded EXCO either by
appointment or as an elected officer from 2012 to date and in truth
the PH Branch has always spoken with one voice until the
unfortunate incidents that have divided the branch from late 2014
till today. On the issue of the statement by the Port Harcourt
Branch Secretary, I fail to see the hue and cry over whether she
would refute a statement credited to her… If she didn’t make the
statement O! I assure you she would not hesitate to refute, but she
made her statement and stands by every word therein contained, (and
you have taken it up with her privately and she maintained her
stand why this grandstanding, as though this is fresh) it is then
left for anyone who has superior argument or facts to disprove
her.
Was there a meeting of leaders of the PH Branch at anytime to
consider a subject as important as the adoption of a candidate for
the office of President of the NBA? Was there a meeting of EXCO, or
of Elected Officers of the Branch? If there was any such meeting
without an important and integral officer as the Secretary of the
branch also say so. True many things have changed in the PH Branch,
unfortunately and sadly so… you are one of the respected elders of
the Branch, try and put the branch interests over and above
personal interests.
You are one of the custodians of the Branch history and you know
I too have participated actively in this Branch…there is something
inherently wrong with this adoption and you know it. I am afraid
that the reverberations from this ill fated adoption are only just
beginning, may it not spell serious disaffection in our Branch. We
are yet to recover fully from the effects of 2014/2015 Judiciary
leadership tussle.
ROMEO ISOKRARI
My dear Senior Colleague, Elder brother and close friend
Longwill… NBA elections will come and go and we will remain.
It is however, not correct to say that we (as PH Branch) never
met to decide anything before the Chairman of the branch commits
the branch in anyway. True there are situations where the Chairman
in his capacity as Chairman takes a position on behalf of the
branch, but on important issues like this he must consult and
convene a meeting even if of only EXCO.
Senior Longwilliams, I have also served the branch in several
capacities prominent among them being Assistant Secretary and
Publicity Secretary, I have been a member of the EBF from inception
to date, I was among those who represented PH Branch during the
administration of E.C Aguma, Esq. (as he then was) Chairman of PH
Branch to the EBF meeting where the first Constitution of the EBF
was considered and the contentious issue of whether membership of
the forum would be on individual basis or on Branch basis was
tabled.
The delegation met at Manuchim Chambers, office of our leader
O.C.J Okocha, SAN, the night before and took a position before we
embarked on the journey. I have also been privileged to be a
delegate in the NBA presidential elections. It was indeed the
practice that before any EBF meeting, and any other important
meeting for that matter, members of the Expanded EXCO and Elected
officers met at OCJ’s office to take a position which is then
canvassed by our Chairman as the position of the branch.
By God’s grace I have been in the Expanded EXCO either by
appointment or as an elected officer from 2012 to date and in truth
the PH Branch has always spoken with one voice until the
unfortunate incidents that have divided the branch from late 2014
till today. On the issue of the statement by the Port Harcourt
Branch Secretary, I fail to see the hue and cry over whether she
would refute a statement credited to her… If she didn’t make the
statement O! I assure you she would not hesitate to refute, but she
made her statement and stands by every word therein contained, (and
you have taken it up with her privately and she maintained her
stand why this grandstanding, as though this is fresh) it is then
left for anyone who has superior argument or facts to disprove
her.
Was there a meeting of leaders of the PH Branch at anytime to
consider a subject as important as the adoption of a candidate for
the office of President of the NBA? Was there a meeting of EXCO, or
of Elected Officers of the Branch? If there was any such meeting
without an important and integral officer as the Secretary of the
branch also say so. True many things have changed in the PH Branch,
unfortunately and sadly so… you are one of the respected elders of
the Branch, try and put the branch interests over and above
personal interests.
You are one of the custodians of the Branch history and you know
I too have participated actively in this Branch…there is something
inherently wrong with this adoption and you know it. I am afraid
that the reverberations from this ill fated adoption are only just
beginning, may it not spell serious disaffection in our Branch. We
are yet to recover fully from the effects of 2014/2015 Judiciary
leadership tussle.
ROMEO ISOKRARI