Ondo NBA denies adopting Akeredolu, PDP refutes alleged pact with LP

akeredolu

MEMBERS of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Ondo State have dissociated themselves from the purported adoption of former president of the association,

MEMBERS of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Ondo State have dissociated themselves from the purported adoption of former president of the association, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the October 20, 2012 election.

Chairmen of three of the four branches in the state, who denounced an earlier statement issued by the Vice-Chairman of Okitipupa branch, Segun Lema, said there was not time Akeredolu was adopted as the candidate of Ondo lawyers for the polls.

The trio of Benson Amuwa, Michael Owoyemi and Tokunbo Oluwole, chairmen of the Okitipupa, Akure and Ondo branches of the association, who were accompanied by Victoria Olagbegi-Olobaba, the treasurer of the Akure branch, told reporters yesterday in Akure that said Lema “was only voicing out his personal decision and not a collective action of lawyers either in Okitipupa his base, or the entire state.”

According to Amuwa, the NBA had nothing against the aspiration of Akeredolu as the governor of the state but “it is against the ethics of the law profession to drag the name of the association into politics.”

Amuwa said members of the NBA had the right to belong to political parties of their choice but the NBA as a professional body was immune from political affiliations.

Amuwa said: “We did not agree to support him (Akeredolu) or any candidate. We are a non-political organisation. NBA cannot rise up to support any candidate.

“The statement of Lema did not represent the position of any of the branches. He just expressed his personal opinion. It is not that of the NBA. He is a Vice Chairman of Okitipupa branch, but he was not authorised to talk. The Okitipupa branch met and denounced the statement. NBA cannot be partisan in an election to be conducted by political parties.”

Also yesterday, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it had not entered into any deal with Labour Party (LP) over the Ondo governorship election.

The party’s position came as its governorship candidate for the election in, Olusola Oke, said sustainable development would be the kernel of his administration if elected.

In a statement issued by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Binta Masi Garba, said there was no such arrangement as the PDP was prepared to regain the state at the coming polls.

“The PDP wishes to state in no uncertain terms that the report is completely untrue and a fabrication of the reporter calculated to deflate the rising profile and prospects of the PDP and our candidate in the election.”

The PDP therefore called on all its supporters to disregard the report and intensify the current campaigns to win the polls for the good of all Ondo people.

Oke, who returned his form to the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, said he had prepared for the election and was sure of victory.

“We have been working hard, contrary to the impression created here and everywhere that PDP was not strong in Ondo State. We have gone through the length and breath. The people of Ondo are yearning for a great change. If you traverse the length and breadth of the state, what you will see are carcass of broken promises, defeated expectations, ill-conceived projects despite the huge resources that have accrued to the state in the past three years.

“The people are beckoning on PDP to come and reassert, to come and perform again, the wonders of sustainable development it put in place when we were in power. I assure you that we are going to deliver the state,’’ he said.