New Message: NBA President, Paul Usoro SAN, Warns Against Subversion Of Nigerians’ Will

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro,
has called on its members not to allow politicians to subvert the
will of Nigerians during the forthcoming general elections across
the country.

This is even as he said the association has started the process
of resuscitating the moribund NBA insurance scheme in other to give
members renewed hope in 2019.

In a statement he issued to mark the New Year, Usoro said
lawyers have a civic responsibility to cast their votes and have
additional roles to play in assisting to ensure that the will of
Nigerians are not subverted.

He said: “Part of the roles of lawyers include participation in
voter education, consultation with relevant stakeholders to ensure
free, fair and violence-free elections, monitoring the electoral
processes and, not least, blowing the whistle on perceived or
identified plans to subvert the people’s will.

“Nigerians need to be encouraged not to mortgage their future on
the altar of immediate and ephemeral gratifications. We need to
understand that our lives and the lives of our children and future
generations are at stake in these elections and we must therefore
vote our convictions,” Usoro explained.

He said in the succeeding days, NBA will unveil concrete steps
it would take, in a non-partisan manner, to contribute to the
success of the 2019 elections.

NBA Leader called on lawyers not to lose sight of their core
responsibility and obligation to promote, protect and uphold the
rule of law in the country.

“In our country, the rule of law suffers degradation in multiple
ways. The rule of law is trampled upon when there is no access to
justice or when such access is denied, not well defined or is
constrained, stifled or impaired howsoever.

“The rule of law is threatened when the practice of law, whether
at the Bar or on the Bench, is brought under siege by agencies of
state through their actions and/or inactions. The rule of law
suffers subjugation when the rights of our people are trodden upon
whether in terms of rights abuses or brazen disobedience of court
orders and judgments.

“The rule of law is degraded when we, wittingly or unwittingly,
fail to build strong institutions that can stand up to the
arbitrariness and abuse of power. In 2019, we will continue to
condemn and beam our searchlights on these undermining practices.
Nigerian lawyers must stand as a united and independent Bar against
these unwholesome and undemocratic practices; in carrying out this
responsibility we must not be cowed or intimated howsoever,” he
added.

The NBA president also noted that the proposed insurance scheme
was in fulfilment of his team’s electoral promise to put members
first at all times and to focus, amongst others, on their
welfare.

He said: “The insurance scheme, in our understanding, was
designed primarily to serve as a safety-net for members in
circumstances of death and/or disability.

“In revamping the scheme, we are taking a holistic look at it,
and would in particular, review the required props for its
sustainability, the scope of coverage and the basket of benefits
that members should and would derive from the scheme.

We would be consultative in our approach in the redesigning of
the scheme and would take on board your suggestions thereon,” he
added.