PROTOCOLS
The Senior Advocates of Nigeria here present Elders and past Chairmen of the Unity Bar, My Fellow Officers of the Branch, My Dear Colleagues, Members of the Press, Distinguished guests, ladies & gentlemen, I am deeply touched and still in shock on my consensus election as Chairman of our beloved Unity Bar. With boundless gratitude for the confidence reposed in me by all of you and with an unswerving resolve to honour that trust, I humbly accept my appointment as the Chairman of our prestigious Bar to serve out the term of our late Chairman, Dr. (Mrs.) Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau. May her gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace. Amen.
First, I recognize that the Unity Bar is going through the most challenging time since her existence given the unfortunate and irreplaceable loss of our ever-diligent Chairman, Dr. (Mrs) Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau.
I recall vividly when Mrs. Shekarau and I were aspirants for this exalted office of the Bar. I was encouraged to step down for her by prominent seniors of this branch in the interest of the Unity Bar and I did. It was a no brainer, as I knew that with Mrs. Shekarau on the saddle, the Unity Bar was in safe and competent hands. I knew that Mrs. Shekarau was going to give all it takes to take the Unity Bar to the next height, and she didn’t let anyone down during her reign as Chairman of the Unity Bar.
The Bar particularly young lawyers witnessed and benefited from the lofty and educative initiatives and programs during her tenure. Mrs. Shekarau’s passing to glory has undoubtedly left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill, but we are duty bound to preserve her legacies by ensuring that the Unity Bar continues to grow in strength. She lives on in our heart.
I am honored and humbled that I have been found worthy to steer the ship of this great body of legal minds pending the next branch general elections. I promise to do this to the best of my ability. I and my team will ensure that the unity Bar remains united and indissoluble by choice, borne out of love and understanding. I will make attempts at reuniting with our colleagues from the other divide. We should remain united.
This body of executives that I will be privileged to head will come up with programs and initiatives on traditional and emerging areas of law that will inspire and assist our members particularly young lawyers to upscale their legal career.
On this, we will work hand-in-hand with the Unity Bar Young Lawyers forum. I will restore the understanding that we once enjoyed as young members of the Bar which gave everyone a sense of belonging in the Bar. I will ensure that NBA Abuja branch continues to be the vanguard for justice, peace and equality in our beloved country. I will ensure that the next election of the Unity Bar continues in the trajectory of credible, free and fair elections and other agenda that I will not be able to fully mention in my speech, for want of time.
However, I assure you that I will not rest on my oars and will work assiduously to set a higher bar for the branch and make our Bar the gold star branch standard for other NBA branches.I will appeal to you my elders, the giants on whose shoulders we lean and all stakeholders of this prestigious body for your support, commitment, encouragement, admonishment, suggestion and even constructive criticism for the greater good of our Branch.
We need all hands on deck in order to take the Unity Bar to a greater level. The executives cannot fulfill the mandate you have given to us without your active engagement as critical stakeholders of the Bar. I appeal for your commitment, your love and magnanimity; the extension of cooperation and support you gave to the past chairman of the Branch to this administration.
To the young members of the Bar, note that I am not only here to serve you but also to learn from you. I take to heart the words of the 35th President of the United States of America, Late John F. Kennedy who once said: “Leadership and Learning are indispensable to each other”. My door is always open to learn from you.Lastly may I join all men and women of goodwill to reiterate the call on the executive arm of government to ensure that the judiciary is fully independent. That is one of the ways to promote and preserve our democracy.
Let me quickly commend the Honourable Judges of the High Court in dispensing Justice, the difficult terrain under which they work not withstanding. I assure you that the Bar will always stand by you to give support and advice or suggestions where necessary. We shall also continue to protect the rights/interest of the members of the Bar but will not fail to mete the necessary punishment where any of us is found wanting.
To this end, I advice all members of the Bar to be law abiding and shun every act of professional misconduct.I conclude with a quote from the great orator and civil right activist, Rev. Martin Luther King Jnr who said: “For when people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping short of victory”.
We know what is right for our Bar and I am willing to make the necessary sacrifice.
Thank you very much and God bless us all.
Long live the Unity Bar! Long live to NBA! Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
MOSES ALFRED EBUTE, SAN.
CHAIRMAN, NBA ABUJA BRANCH (UNITY BAR).
