Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised the recently concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Rivers State, describing the event as poorly organised and accusing organisers of turning it into a political platform….
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised the recently concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Rivers State, describing the event as poorly organised and accusing organisers of turning it into a political platform.
Wike, speaking in an interview, explained his decision not to attend the conference despite being in the state, saying he had no interest in participating in an event he believed had deviated from its purpose.
The former Rivers State governor said the conference was the worst he had witnessed since the NBA began organising its annual gathering.
“It was a complete flop. Organisation was zero,” Wike said.
He accused the organisers of focusing on politics instead of issues relevant to the legal profession.
“Instead of focusing on the real thing the NBA conference is supposed to be, they started playing politics,” he said.
Wike also criticised the NBA leadership for allegedly allowing opposition politics to feature prominently at the conference.
He said he had previously warned the current NBA president about the people backing her during her election, claiming that he had told her on several occasions why he would not support her candidacy.
According to Wike, the NBA president later visited him and he reiterated his concerns, telling her that there was significant work to be done within the association.
The FCT minister also questioned the decision to invite certain political figures to an event organised by a professional body whose core responsibility includes promoting the rule of law.
He particularly criticised the presence of a former governor whom he accused of shutting down the courts in the state for almost two years.
“How could NBA go and bring somebody who locked up the court for almost two years onto the platform of NBA?” Wike asked.
He argued that the issue was not about political sentiment or which party the individual belonged to, but about the credibility of the legal profession and its commitment to the rule of law.
Wike further questioned the propriety of presenting such individuals at an NBA platform while the association was simultaneously discussing issues surrounding judicial independence and the rule of law.
He said the NBA should be careful about the individuals it honours or gives prominence to at its conferences, warning that such decisions could undermine public confidence in the association.
The minister also raised a hypothetical question about the consequences of individuals with controversial records being considered for high political offices, asking what would happen if such a person eventually became vice-president of Nigeria.
