ADAMAWA GUBER POLLS: Bayelsa DGov Condemns REC's Action, Decries NBA, FIDA Silence

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on Tuesday expressed concern over the quietness of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and other legal bodies in the country over the unprofessional conduct of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Mr. Hudu Yamusa Ari.

It would be recalled that Mr. Hudu Ari, a lawyer by profession, unilaterally declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Adamawa State, Aisha Dahiru, winner of the supplementary polls while the collation of results of the election was yet to be concluded.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo expressed the concern when the Bayelsa State chapter of the FIDA led by its Chairperson, Mrs. Deme Debra Pamosso, paid him a courtesy call at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor lamented that the legal profession was in a serious crisis in Nigeria at the moment due to the brazen manner with which some legal practitioners violate the laws they are supposed to defend.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo said saddened by the silence of the NBA and its affiliate associations over the Adamawa saga and other unprofessional issues, stressing such portends a grave danger to not only the nation’s democracy but the legal profession as well.

According to him, he had expected the NBA to come out openly with a public statement concerning the unprofessional and despicable conduct of the Adamawa REC, noting that if such bodies refuse to speak out in times as these, they inadvertently become accomplices.

He maintained that absence of integrity among many practicing lawyers was worrisome, as legal practitioners nowadays were ready to break the law in defence of partisan or primordial interests.

 

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who commended FIDA for protecting and promoting the rights of women and children over the years, urged them to extend their enlightenment campaigns against child abuse and divorce to the rural areas.

He called on the female lawyers to employ arbitration to save troubled marriages and homes bedeviled by one form of marital crisis or another.

His words: " We are having a major crisis in the legal profession. The level at which lawyers and the likes have decided to desecrate, denigrate and disparage and send the legal profession to public odium is becoming unacceptable.

"As the glory of the palm tree is its green leaves, the glory of the legal profession is being law-abiding and enforcing the laws. But when the legal practitioner becomes the first to throw the law overboard, then the legal profession is actually losing its reputation and integrity.

"There is indeed a short supply of people with integrity and character in this country. Look at what the Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) did a few days ago.

"As far as I'm concerned it is an embarrassment to every lawyer who is worth his or her salt. He (REC) is not a greenhorn in the profession. He is somebody that has practised the law for a reasonable number of years.

"I've always told people that bad attitude is like a flat tire that takes you nowhere. The level of bad character that is germinating in the legal profession is thing of great concern to some of us.

"I believe the FIDA and other affiliate bodies of the NBA must take a position on this. Even as I'm really saddened that up till now the NBA has not made any statement about the unbridled and treasonable action by the Adamawa REC".

Earlier in her remarks, the State Chairperson of FIDA, Mrs. Deme Debra Pamosso, thanked the Bayelsa State Government for giving support to FIDA to achieve its objectives.

Mrs. Pamosoo, however, appealed to the State Government for its support and participation in the reception the Association is planning for the recently retired Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Kate Abiri, later this month.

She equally reminded government of the promise it made during the 2022 legal year celebration of procuring an 18-seater bus for the association.