NBA Conference: The Celebration Of A Performer

The just concluded
56th Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) National Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital offered the people of the State another privilege to prove to the world that the State is the safest place for investments with the highest potentials for benefits.
For a week, August 19 to 26, 2016, the people of Rivers State played host to over 10,000 lawyers from the 36 states of the federation and Abuja. The NBA conference in Port Harcourt tagged ‘Garden City 2016’ was a resounding success. The security network before, during and after the conference was second to none. Conferees moved round the different conference venues with no untoward experience. The transportation system was near perfect while the hotels provided quality accommodation.
The conference helped to further stimulate the growing Rivers economy as thousands of business concerns benefitted directly and indirectly from the presence of the lawyers in the state.
One of the most outstanding benefits of the conference in terms of infrastructure is the remodelled Alfred Diete Spiff Civic Centre. Governor Nyesom Wike revived infrastructure at the facility and made it world class to serve as the main venue of the conference. At the end of the conference, the Civic Centre would be used as an indoor sports facility for different games.
Several other associate conference venues were upgraded by the Rivers State Government to ensure that the conference was hosted in a befitting environment. These facilities will continue to serve the people of the State.
The theme of this year’s NBA Annual General Conference: “Democracy and Economic Development” was exhaustively treated at the different sessions of the conference. Highpoint of the conference was the successful transition from the immediate past president, Augustine Alegeh to the new president, Abubakar Mahmoud.
Without doubt, the conference afforded the Nigerian lawyers the direct opportunity to assess one of their own, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. The lawyers were able to observe that Governor Wike has touched the lives of the Rivers people through projects that have enhanced the economic well-being of the people of the State.
They further observed that Rivers State is one of the few states that are up- to-date in terms of the payment of salaries and pension in addition to the sustained funding of development projects.
Governor Wike, on Thursday, August 25, 2016, led over three hundred lawyers from all the branches of the NBA on a detailed project tour across three local government areas. These selected lawyers who cut across all ages were able to assess the governor’s development philosophy and practical implementation on the field.
Projects inspected include: NBA Law Centre, Federal High Court, Dr Nabo Graham Douglas Faculty of Law at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, Port Harcourt Pleasure Park , Second Nkpogu bridge, Elelenwo-Akpajo road and the Second Woji-Akpajo bridge.
Among the selected lawyers for the assessment tour were the immediate past NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) and his successor, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN). The lawyers were impressed with the performance of Governor Wike.
Mahmoud commended the governor for executing projects that promote legal practice such as the Law Centre, Law Faculty at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and the Federal High Court.
The NBA President urged Governor Wike to ensure that he drives ongoing projects to completion to the benefit of the people.
Immediate past president of NBA, Alegeh was particularly impressed with the Law Faculty at RSUST which he said would help in grooming fresh lawyers with modern facilities and enhance human resources. Alegeh urged the students of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology to show appreciation to the governor by becoming worthy ambassadors to the school.
Another senior lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) also lauded the governor for living up to the expectations of the people of the State, while a nun, Barrister Darlingtina Ifeanyichukwu said the governor is an example of good governance and the judicious application of resources.
Ifeanyichukwu was impressed by Governor Wike’s humility and popularity around the streets of Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor and Eleme Local Government Areas. She charged the governor to continue to respect the rule of law as he serves the people of the State.
While commissioning the Dr Peter Odili Road constructed by the Governor Wike administration, the immediate past president of NBA, Alegeh said that Governor Wike has lived up to the expectations of the people of Rivers State by implementing quality projects.
He said: “We are proud that Governor Wike has delivered what he promised his people. This road is necessary for the economic development of the state”
Nigerian women lawyers on Wednesday, 24th August, 2016 also recognised the efforts of Governor Wike towards the promotion of the welfare of women and children by presenting him an award at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Presenting the award of recognition to Governor Wike on behalf of FIDA, Former FIDA Nigeria President and Judge of the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights, Justice Elsie Nwanwuri Thompson, urged the governor to sustain his commitment to the welfare of women and children.
FIDA National President, Mrs Inime Aguma shared Thompson’s view, saying Governor Wike’s contributions to the improvement of the living standard of women and children are worthy of emulation and should be encouraged.
Regional Vice President for Africa of FIDA, Hajiya Laraba Shuaibu, in her own remarks, lauded Governor Wike for standing up for women and children, saying that he deserves the award of recognition.
Representative of Association of Women Judges, Justice Patricia Mahmoud commended the government and people of Rivers State for their kindness, warmth and friendship all through the NBA conference.
The praises that were showered on Governor Wike stemmed from the verified projects and programmes executed by the governor for the people of the State.
It is not by coincidence that everyone that attended the NBA conference recognised the performance of the governor. They must have been surprised and impressed with the laudable achievements of the state government under Wike in less than two years, contrary to the false propaganda being sponsored by the Rivers APC.
Having come from many states where their governors give excuses for failing to perform, the visitors were surprised and happy that Rivers State is working, against all odds, due to the leadership of a visionary governor.
Although the NBA conference may have come and gone but the memory it leaves behind will continue to linger for a longtime. The emotions exhibited by hundreds of lawyers after accompanying Governor Wike on projects inspection is indicative of the fact that Rivers State is on the right track.
This is not surprising given the fact that Governor Wike has at different fora declared that his commitment to the development of Rivers State remains strong. He believes in the effective and judicious application of resources for the good of the State.
Nwakaudu is Senior Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media.

Simeon Nwakaudu