Adebola Olarotimi Lema Esq Runs For The Office Of Chairman, NBA Lagos Bar

Adebola Olarotimi Lema also known as A.O. Lema
has registered his intention of running for the chairmanship of the
NBA Lagos Branch.

In a speech titled, ” New Era: New Paradigm”,
the legal practitioner said that the decision is one that he didn’t
take lightly. According to him, he is willing and ready to make the
sacrifice that is necessary to advance the cause of the branch.

NEW ERA: NEW PARADIGM

Dear Learned Seniors and Colleagues,

It gladdens me to reach out to you today after the Election
Committee of our Premier Branch has given contestants the nod to
preach the gospel of continuing good governance for the Nigerian
Bar Association-Lagos Branch once again.

As you may have heard, I, Adebola Olarotimi Lema have
offered myself for service as Chairman of our great Branch at this
next elections.

This is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have had
cause through the years to ruminate on the affairs of the Branch
even as I have also always taken pro-active and positive steps to
ensure good leadership for the Branch. The consensus is that the
outgoing leadership (which we endorsed at the start) has performed
creditably and we wish all members of the 2017-2019 Exco well in
their future endeavours.

As the baton of leadership is about to change hands in a
couple of months, it is this same noble desire that the Branch be
led and led right that propelled me to seek the office of Chairman
and your support to do so – as I am doing right now.

My motives are purely altruistic! To lead and lead
right!!

I know that character is vital to true leadership, and
anyone who aspires to leadership must have it in spades. It is
right to interrogate my past, juxtapose it with my present and
possibly fathom what my future holds both for myself and the Bar
which I aspire to lead. Max Weber, once argued that the true leader
is characterised by three qualities: passion, a feeling of
responsibility, and a sense of proportion.

As has been postulated elsewhere, Leaders must have a strong
ethical backbone and an inner sense of purpose combined with sober
judgement and a deep sense of responsibility. These are the
qualities of leadership that I bring to the Bar: Passion,
Responsibility and Empathy.

Integrity is key in leadership. Everyone who knows me will
tell you that I am a man of integrity. I have kept my word to all
and sundry in my time in the legal profession and at the Bar. In
all this I did not discriminate between young or old, or rich or
poor. I stand for equal measure and justice for all.

This is our Bar and our profession. I have managed an
efficient Law Firm from my early years in legal practice for over a
decade now. I have been active in the NBA since the year I was
called to the bar. I was Secretary of our branch from 2014-2015. I
have served in Committees of the NBA, and worked or collaborated
with colleagues in the larger NBA across the country. In all this
time, not one client, colleague or judicial officer I have
interacted with has had cause to question my character, integrity,
competence, ethical practice and keen sense of justice.

Today, I, A.O. Lema as some call me, pledge that my
aspiration means a united Branch, commitment to all members of the
Branch, responsive and responsible leadership, accessibility,
dedication to the cause of the Branch in particular and the NBA in
general. We must keep faith with the welfare of our members even as
we look out for others in society.

I am willing and ready to make the sacrifice that is
necessary to advance the cause of the Branch. My plans for the
Branch will be placed before you in clearer and minute detail in
the coming days and weeks as we prepare for the elections.

As I said when I ran for Secretary five years ago, my
fidelity is to the Law and to the Lagos Bar.

Thank you.

Adebola Olarotimi Lema

Former Secretary, NBA Lagos Branch

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