NBA looming crisis: Yoruba lawyers set up reconciliation committee

The meeting was held at Chief Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan and at the end of the five-hour meeting presided over by Chief Dele Aiku (SAN), the ‘Egbe Amofin’ resolved to reconcile the splinter group within its fold by setting up a reconciliation committee headed by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).  Other members of the […]

The meeting was held at Chief Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan and at the end of the five-hour meeting presided over by Chief Dele Aiku (SAN), the ‘Egbe Amofin’ resolved to reconcile the splinter group within its fold by setting up a reconciliation committee headed by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).  
Other members of the committee are Mr. Nathaniel Oke (SAN), Chief (Mrs) C. J. Aremu (SAN) and a representative of the NBA from each of the states in the South-west.
The reconciliation committee which was given a two-week ultimatum has specific mandate of bringing the splinter group back into the mainstream.
Members of the ‘Egbe Amofin’ however noted that even though they recognized the constitutional right of the splinter group to voice out their opinion, they should allow peace to reign supreme in the overall interest of the NBA and the zone they represent.
The looming crack in the house of the Yoruba lawyers manifested from a declaration from the splinter group which rose from a meeting in Akure recently unilaterally endorsing one of the four aspirants from the South-west zone gunning for the position of the NBA president without the consent of the larger house.
The four NBA presidential aspirants from the zone are Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN), Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN), Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) and Mr. Osas Irhabor, the incumbent National Vice President.
While dissociating itself from the outcome of the purported meeting held in Akure, the ‘Egbe Amofin’ set up a three-member Screening Committee headed by Chief (Mrs) Priscila Kuye, a former NBA President, to screen all the aspirants and recommend to the larger house within three weeks,  the one to be put forward as the zone’s candidate for election.  The two other members of the screening committee are Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN) and Dr. Babatunde Ajibade (SAN).
Chief Dele Aiku (SAN), while addressing participants at the meeting pleaded profusely with them not to allow history repeat itself as he referred to the incident within the NBA in 1989 when Yoruba lawyers from the South-west zone fielded three candidates against the sole contestant from Edo State who eventually emerged winner of that NBA presidential election.
Aiku among others had suggested that one of the presidential aspirants be adopted by the forum while reconciliation and harmonization processes are being explored, adding that other presidential aspirants had long hit the campaign trail. But their position was countered especially by Professor Gabriel Olawoyin (SAN) who noted that it would be untidy for the forum to adopt a candidate and then “harmonize” its position with the candidate adopted by the splinter group.
He said it would be neater to attempt to reconcile with the group prior to adopting a single candidate for the Egbe Amofin. Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) also aligned himself with this position.
Accepting to mediate in the crisis, Awomolo also argued that his job might be made more difficult if a candidate was adopted at the meeting.
 Confirming Aiku’s disclosure that he mooted the Egbe Amofin idea, Awomolo said he “never envisaged” the present crisis which the Egbe found itself, adding: “The proper thing is, let us see ourselves as bringing them back in the fold. I read in the papers that they have sacked Baba Aiku; it is not proper.”
He appealed to the Egbe Amofin leadership to “bend over backwards to accommodate them (splinter group),” and urged branch chairmen to “extend their goodwill” to their colleagues within the splinter group towards bringing them back into the fold.
Suggesting that the screening committee should continue the process of recommending a sole candidate to the forum, Awomolo said: “Give me two weeks and I will come back and report to you. Everybody has a point. Let us have a large heart.”
Addressing one of the grievances of the splinter group, Aiku said that though the Abeokuta meeting had been adjourned to last October, the meeting could not be convened “as there was nothing from the constitution and screening committees,” adding that erstwhile chairman of the disbanded screening committee was “blackmailed” to resign on the pretext that he is from Kogi State and not of Yoruba extraction.
A mild drama had earlier ensued when Aiku reported to the forum that Akintola had lodged a verbal protest that he would not attend the reconciliation talks. He however assured that the development would be amicably resolved.
A resolution signed by 11 branch chairmen had set the stage for the reconciliatory efforts, saying they “dissociate ourselves from the resolutions allegedly reached at the said (Akure) caucus meeting on the adoption of Dele Adesina SAN or any other candidate as the nominee of the South-west for the next NBA Presidential elections,” the chairmen committed themselves to the Aiku leadership of Egbe Amofin.
They however noted that “it has become necessary to save the unity of Egbe Amofin, our collective heritage, and our place within the Nigerian Bar Association,” urging all stakeholders to “stand together and close ranks quickly to resolve all lingering disagreements.”