Barrack Obama once said “it should be the power of vote, not the size of bank account, that drives democracy.”
For Lawyers at this time, it therefore becomes imperative to be cautious of what we take and receive this election period to avoid receiving the proverbial Greek gift in the name of goodwill.
NBA is a pressure group, which receives no allocation from government, the curious mind should query the extra mile some candidates are willing to go in the bid to become NBA President.
Money politics directly impacts policy making and execution. Those who buy votes in the name of goodwill tend to get more votes but also tend to recover same in policy making which certainly erodes the efficiency of the administration itself.
The pernicious effect of money politics in NBA has entrenched such misnomer that some percentage of Lawyers hardly vote candidates of their choice. They hardly even have the impetus to query the way and manner billions of naira generated every year are explained away in financial reports at AGM’s.
NBA was established to protect the Rule of Law and not the Rule for money. It is high time we reduce the role of money during NBA elections and inculcate the demand for CHARACTER, MERIT, and COMMITMENT to the ideals of the NBA WE WANT!
While we ponder and get ready towards the NBA election, we should ask: Is it fair and how will it promote the growth of NBA and the general welfare of Lawyers? The right to conscionable and value driven vote, which is hitherto under attack by the tidal wave of money for votes, should be protected by all and sundry.
Happy Easter to all our Christian colleagues!
Chidi Udekwe
