SPIDEL: Makinde Promises ‘Very Good Experience’ For Conferees

Oyo State Governor, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde has promised that the
state will host a memorable annual conference of the Nigerian Bar
Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law
(NBA-SPIDEL) in Ibadan from May 23 to 26.

Speaking while receiving a delegation of NBA-SPIDEL at
Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, Makinde assured that the state
would also provide a safe environment for the delegates.

He said: “I am glad that you are bringing the conference here
because that is what we want to see. We want people to come around
and experience what we are trying to do here. We will support
you.”

According to Makinde, “We will provide a safe and secure
environment for the annual conference. We will ensure that you have
a very good experience.”

The Oyo State Governor, who promised to personally declare open
the annual conference, also observed that the conference would
boost the state’s economy, noting that “some of the money to be
spent by the 2000 delegates will trickle down to the business
sector.”

Noting that NBA-SPIDEL has a special place in his heart, Makinde
said: “The Section on Public Interest is something that is very
interesting to us because I always tell people that this government
was put in place by the people themselves.

“We did not come in through any godfather. We did not come in
because we had federal might. We did not even have local might when
we were about to get elected. So, we can only run a government that
is sensitive to the yearnings of our people. If we are hosting a
conference of Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest
and Development Law, we think this is an appropriate place for that
to happen.”

According to a statement by a member of the delegation and Head
of Media & Publicity for the conference, Mr. Emeka Nwadioke,
Makinde expressed worry at the rising unemployment in the country
as well as the over-dependence on the Federal Government for
allocations, urging lawyers to “let your voices be heard” in
resolving the crises of federalism and nation-building.

He said: “My Commissioner for Finance is in Abuja now for FAAC.
If we don’t have it, the whole place will probably collapse. But
why should that be? If it is a federation, why are we all running
to Abuja every month to look for federal allocation? Those are some
of the challenges that I know when legal minds come together, they
can assist the country on. You can weigh in and let your voices be
heard.”

In his welcome address, the Oyo State Attorney-General &
Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo (SAN) said that the
annual conference “could not have come at a better time,” adding
that the state is noted as a pacesetter which hosts the oldest
Ministry of Justice in the country.

The NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN) in his address
said that about 2,000 delegates would attend the annual conference
tagged “Ibadan 2021” to brainstorm on issues that border on public
interest and development.

He noted the developmental strides of the administration, adding
that the fact that a majority of the Cabinet members are lawyers
must have contributed positively to Makinde’s success. Ananaba also
commended the government for displaying public interest by
relocating displaced traders instead of abandoning them.

He stated that the annual conference would hold from May 23 to
26 this year, adding that a surfeit of leading human rights and
other speakers have committed to attend the conference to tackle
the theme, “The role of public interest in governance in
Nigeria.”

The NBA-SPIDEL delegation included former NBA General Secretary
and Chairman of Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC),
Mr. Abiola Olagunju (SAN); human rights activist and Chairman of
the Conference Planning Committee (CPC), Mr. Monday Ubani, and NBA
Ibadan Branch Chairman, Mr. Olayinka Esan. The delegation was
received by Governor Makinde alongside the Secretary to the State
Government, Mrs. Olubanwo Adeosun; Chief of Staff, Chief Oyebisi
Ilaka and five commissioners including Prof. Oyewo; Mr. Olasunkanmi
Olaleye (Education, Science & Technology); Mr. Adeniyi Farinto
(Budget & Planning); Mr. Seun Ashamu (Energy) and Mr. Rahman
AbdulRaheem (Lands) as well as the Director General of Due Process,
Tara Adefowopo.

Oyo State Governor, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde has promised that the
state will host a memorable annual conference of the Nigerian Bar
Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law
(NBA-SPIDEL) in Ibadan from May 23 to 26.

Speaking while receiving a delegation of NBA-SPIDEL at
Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, Makinde assured that the state
would also provide a safe environment for the delegates.

He said: “I am glad that you are bringing the conference here
because that is what we want to see. We want people to come around
and experience what we are trying to do here. We will support
you.”

According to Makinde, “We will provide a safe and secure
environment for the annual conference. We will ensure that you have
a very good experience.”

The Oyo State Governor, who promised to personally declare open
the annual conference, also observed that the conference would
boost the state’s economy, noting that “some of the money to be
spent by the 2000 delegates will trickle down to the business
sector.”

Noting that NBA-SPIDEL has a special place in his heart, Makinde
said: “The Section on Public Interest is something that is very
interesting to us because I always tell people that this government
was put in place by the people themselves.

“We did not come in through any godfather. We did not come in
because we had federal might. We did not even have local might when
we were about to get elected. So, we can only run a government that
is sensitive to the yearnings of our people. If we are hosting a
conference of Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest
and Development Law, we think this is an appropriate place for that
to happen.”

According to a statement by a member of the delegation and Head
of Media & Publicity for the conference, Mr. Emeka Nwadioke,
Makinde expressed worry at the rising unemployment in the country
as well as the over-dependence on the Federal Government for
allocations, urging lawyers to “let your voices be heard” in
resolving the crises of federalism and nation-building.

He said: “My Commissioner for Finance is in Abuja now for FAAC.
If we don’t have it, the whole place will probably collapse. But
why should that be? If it is a federation, why are we all running
to Abuja every month to look for federal allocation? Those are some
of the challenges that I know when legal minds come together, they
can assist the country on. You can weigh in and let your voices be
heard.”

In his welcome address, the Oyo State Attorney-General &
Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo (SAN) said that the
annual conference “could not have come at a better time,” adding
that the state is noted as a pacesetter which hosts the oldest
Ministry of Justice in the country.

The NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN) in his address
said that about 2,000 delegates would attend the annual conference
tagged “Ibadan 2021” to brainstorm on issues that border on public
interest and development.

He noted the developmental strides of the administration, adding
that the fact that a majority of the Cabinet members are lawyers
must have contributed positively to Makinde’s success. Ananaba also
commended the government for displaying public interest by
relocating displaced traders instead of abandoning them.

He stated that the annual conference would hold from May 23 to
26 this year, adding that a surfeit of leading human rights and
other speakers have committed to attend the conference to tackle
the theme, “The role of public interest in governance in
Nigeria.”

The NBA-SPIDEL delegation included former NBA General Secretary
and Chairman of Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC),
Mr. Abiola Olagunju (SAN); human rights activist and Chairman of
the Conference Planning Committee (CPC), Mr. Monday Ubani, and NBA
Ibadan Branch Chairman, Mr. Olayinka Esan. The delegation was
received by Governor Makinde alongside the Secretary to the State
Government, Mrs. Olubanwo Adeosun; Chief of Staff, Chief Oyebisi
Ilaka and five commissioners including Prof. Oyewo; Mr. Olasunkanmi
Olaleye (Education, Science & Technology); Mr. Adeniyi Farinto
(Budget & Planning); Mr. Seun Ashamu (Energy) and Mr. Rahman
AbdulRaheem (Lands) as well as the Director General of Due Process,
Tara Adefowopo.