From the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) came a message of hope as the nation marked its Democracy Day with great pomp and ceremony especially with the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as the fifth executive President. It however scored the outgone administration low on its inability to pass into Law the Petroleum Industry Bill, Prisons Reforms Act and the Police (Amendment) Act and several other Justice sector Bills. This, it said represented low points for the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. The association charged the Buhari’s administration to make good its promise to wipe tears away from the electorate who had reposed confidence in the administration following their massive turn out in the March presidential election. “We trust that the elected candidates appreciate the trust imposed in them and the hope and expectations of the electorate for a better Nigeria where the good of the majority of Nigerians is the guiding principle of government”, NBA said. Buhari took oath of office on May 29 following his victory at the March 28 presidential election.
He defeated the incumbent and outgone president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan with over 5 million votes to emerge winner of the election. In a release by the association’s President, Mr. Agustine Alege, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the lawyers’ umbrella body described this year’s Democracy Day as unique, wishing the new President and deputy, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria a pleasant tenure. Besides, the association dwelt in Jonathan’s statesmanship, describing him as the nation’s hero of democracy for the peaceful conduct of the elections and conceding defeat. The gesture, it said was rare in the 21st Century Africa, saving Nigeria from anarchy deserved recognition in the continen’s Guinness Book.
The release reads: “The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wishes all our members and indeed all Nigerians happy democracy day celebrations 2015. We celebrate today not just our democracy day but also a change of Government from one Political party to another. It is a unique and first time experience and celebration in our democratic experience. It confirms that our democracy is not just growing and developing but it is also maturing. We must as a people celebrate our collective success in the peaceful conduct of the 2015 General elections.
“The massive voter turnout and peaceful conduct of the elections are reflective of our true nature as a peaceful nation. The NBA congratulates the victorious candidates at the 2015 general elections for their offer of service to Nigeria. We trust that the elected candidates appreciate the trust imposed in them and the hope and expectations of the electorate for a better Nigeria where the good of the majority of Nigerians is the guiding principle of Government. “The NBA commends the outgoing President, HE Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR for the peaceful conduct of the 2015 General Elections which were adjudged largely credible and were reflective of the true wishes of majority of Nigerians. “The act of conceding defeat at the presidential elections even before the official announcement of the election results greatly helped to douse rising tensions in Nigeria and has reserved for him in Nigerian history, a place of honour as a statesman.
“There are divergent views on the success of the President Jonathan administration. However, the NBA greatly appreciates the success of the administration in passing into Law the Freedom of Information Act, the Evidence Act, the Prohibition of Violence Against Persons Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and other Justice sector legislation. “We must also state that the inability of the administration to pass into Law the Petroleum Industry Bill, the Prisons Reforms Act and the Police (Amendment) Act and several other Justice sector Bills represent low points for the administration. The NBA appreciates that President Jonathan served Nigeria to the best of his ability and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours.
“We must specially congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, our own Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN on their landslide victory at the elections which also marked the first time a ruling Party would be defeated at General Elections. “The NBA is in no doubt that the new administration appreciates the expectations of Nigerians whose massive votes for their change agenda reflect the pervasive view of Nigerians that Nigeria needs change.
We expect that the agenda of the new administration in the first 100 days in office would be to tackle the problems of infrastructural deficiency, unemployment, insecurity, pervasive corruption, revenue leakages and persistent scarcity of Petroleum products. “Though these issues are pressing, the NBA expects the administration to also set out as part of its agenda the amendment and reformation of Nigerian Laws to make them meet present day challenges. “Government policies must be backed by law and to actualise the desired change agenda there must be reformation of our Laws to give legal backing to the change agenda. The NBA offers its unflinching support to the administration in the exercise of amending, reforming and update of Nigerian Laws. We congratulate and welcome back our members who had been on national service. Several NBA members served meritoriously in office and we commend them. However, sadly some of our members fell short of expectation and they were not good ambassadors of the Bar.
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