Lagos lawyer and Chairman, Ondo State Eminent Group (OSEG), Banji Alabi, has charged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to form a common front and lead civil society groups in pressing the government at all levels to end the escalating insecurity that is grounding economic and social lives in the country.
In his goodwill message to the Law Week celebration by the Eti Osa Lagos branch of the NBA, Alabi said lawyers and the media are the custodians of the Constitution. He said they are also advocates of the less-privileged and downtrodden, urging them to pick up the courage and push the government to identify with the pains and anguish of the people.
While commending the vibrancy and achievements of the Eti Osa branch and the general performance of the NBA at the local government level, the civil rights campaigner said one of the major factors at the root of the insecurity bedevilling the country is the misconception that it is solely a federal government responsibility.
He insisted that it is a tripartite responsibility involving the federal, states and local councils, adding that communities too have primary roles to play, being grassroot-based. He said all the chief executives at the three levels of governance in the country used to receive constitutionally backed security votes (allowance) regularly.
He, therefore, enjoined both states and local governments to wake up and carry out their own portion of the constitutional responsibility of securing life and property at the grassroots.
He tasked the NBA to lead the civil society to secure more devolution of power to both the states and local government for the purpose of accelerated development.
The lawyer also admonished both levels of government to make judicious use of resources and power at their disposal in a manner that would reflect positively in the lives of the people at the grassroots.
Particularly, he urged the NBA to lead in the clamour for states and local police, arguing that the solution to the insecurity bedevilling the entire country lies with it.
Addressing the NBA branch leadership and members, he said: “Continue championing the rights of the downtrodden majority. Our profession is a call to duty, and I expect all of us to speak with one voice, helping to give all unfettered access to justice and room to speak out, especially at the local levels.”
