The Nigerian Bar Association or NBA has asked its members to take leadership positions to save Nigeria from incompetent leaders.
NBA President Olumide Akpata made the appeal while speaking at the association’s 2021 conference themed “Taking the Lead”, which officially began on October 25-October 29.
“If we are to make the desired progress to take Nigeria to the promised land, we must speak truth to power and indeed to ourselves by acknowledging that in terms of the abundant human and natural resources that God has blessed Nigeria with, we have definitely been punching way below our weight category,” Mr Akpata said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I request that lawyers should take leadership positions anywhere they find themselves. Who knows, we may find one who leads this country and take us to the Promised Land.”
Chief Justice of Nigeria Mohammed Tanko, represented by Justice Mary Odili, expressed deep concerns about the country’s continuing crisis, citing that struggling youths are turning to crime for financial gain.
“A teeming population of our youths who have nothing to fend for themselves has suddenly found the various activities of criminalities such as kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism as their sources and means of livelihood,” Justice Tanko said.
He also urged judges across the country to step up to the challenge, saying that Nigeria can reach peace if it can bring balance to the scales of justice, emphasising that the courts must ensure that justice is served at all times no matter how hard the pressure from within.
