Former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has urged the body not to jettison the zoning of its next president to the Southwest zone.
The eminent lawyer warned that the perceived moves to deny the region the presidency of the NBA might lead to dire consequences, which he did not mention.
He said the previous ones were elected on the basis of zoning and sympathized with the Midwest, whose members in the association are angling to produce the next NBA president.
In a letter yesterday addressed to the NBA President, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), Agbakoba said: “I recognise and empathise with the exclusion of the Midwest, but it is in our overall interest to maintain the zoning arrangement.
“I suggest we do not depart from the zoning arrangement but immediately take steps to address the grievances of the Midwest”.
He said NBA elections should not be reduced to a “do-or-die affair”, adding that lawyers are not politicians.
Agbakoba said: “Based on current arrangements, it is the turn of the Southwest and we must all support candidates from the zone.
“Although not a binding convention, all past presidents have been elected based on zoning.
“I regret that the 2014 NBA presidential election is getting out of hand and I fear there will be dire consequences.
“We must not allow the election to become a do-or-die matter. We are not politicians”.
Information Nigeria reports that the Southwest has not been able to agree on a consensus candidate after the regional forum, Egbe Amofin, could not agree on one out of the three candidates eyeing the foremost position of the NBA.