Okonjo-Iweala asks politicians to stop weaponising insecurity
26 August 2024 |
3:14 am
President of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has called for gender equity in the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Sadly, no woman led NBA in 30yrs, says Dongban-Mensem
President of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has called for gender equity in the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
“It is quite sad that we have not had a female president of the bar for over three decades,” Justice Dongban-Mensem declared before legal luminaries and dignitaries, yesterday, during the opening ceremony of the NBA Annual General Conference at the Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos.
At the event, the President of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, urged politicians to stop weaponising insecurity against their opposition in office.
Delivering a keynote address entitled, ‘A Social Contract For Nigeria’s Future’, the former Nigerian finance minister said: “We cannot have socio-economic development without security. We certainly cannot have security without development.
“We all know that security has been weaponised in our country for political purposes by political actors, leading partly to the situation we have now. We have politicians who believe that the best way to make their opponents look bad is to instigate insecurity, making it look like they can’t govern, regardless of whether this leads to the loss of lives and property of innocent Nigerians. This has to stop.”
At the NBA election in July, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afam Osigwe, emerged as the president-elect of the bar, to take over from Yakubu Maikyau (SAN). Before Maikyau were Olumide Akpata and Paul Usoro.
However, Justice Dongban-Mensem said the bar should display gender equity and justice by electing a female president. She said, “Equity and vibrant justice, especially gender-wise, should be fortified and demonstrated in NBA. It is not encouraging that since the inception of the association, only one female, in the person of Dame Priscilla Kuye, ascended to the seat of the president from 1991 to 1992, in a profession that boasts near equality.
“It is quite sad that we have not had a female president of the Bar for over three decades. We cannot demand equity in a progressive society and be regressive, among our ranks. Therefore, more has to be done.”
The event with the theme, ‘Pressing Forward; A National Posture to Rebuilding Nigeria’, featured stellar personalities at home and abroad. Former President of Ghana John Mahama was present while President Bola Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima. Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his counterpart in the lower chamber, Tajudeen Abbas, were also represented at the event.
Related
1 day ago
Ace Real Estate has announced the launch of its new subsidiary, Realty Boss Assets Limited, to better serve its clientele and meet the evolving demands of the Nigerian real estate market.
1 day ago
President Bola Tinubu yesterday told Nigerians, many of whom are living by a thread, that he is aware of their struggles and that the economic reforms his administration has embarked on in the past year are meant to prevent
1 day ago
Nigeria might have scored an inglorious first yesterday with what appeared to have been its most un-welcomed Independence Day. As the country marked the 64th anniversary of its existence, citizens took to the streets across several states to protest worsened economic hardship.
1 day ago
Following the removal of subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023, Nigeria has recorded a drop in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) importation. According to the petroleum products distribution statistics report released yesterday by the National Bureau of Statistics
1 day ago
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, led Vice President Kashim Shettima and other high-profile guests to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary, which climaxed with a military parade at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid pomp and ceremony.
1 day ago
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to stop what it calls the demonic Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) project located in Imo State. The group insisted that it would never allow the Nigerian government
1 day ago
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 35-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the lingering crises threatening the public university system.
1 day ago
The United States, United Kindgom and Saudi Arabia have extended their congratulations to Nigeria as the West African nation marked its 64th Independence Day anniversary yesterday.
1 day ago
The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed reports that its operatives have sealed off the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) in Port Harcourt to stop them from conducting the local government council elections
1 day ago
Troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, and Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested 10 suspects in Taraba State. The arrests include eight Boko Haram terrorists and two high-profile female kidnapping informants.
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.