Why I could not vote at the last NBA Election – Labesa, Esq

Mr. Victor Labesa is a legal luminary who has traversed the Nigeria Legal space like a colossus. Called to the Nigeria Bar over 30 years ago having graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University in 1987, this easy going hero of our time delved on so many issues, especially on his field of specialty, law. He spoke with our Editor-in-chief Emmanuel Igho Iriogbe. EXCERPTS: 

Sir, Can we meet you this morning?Good morning.

A, Good to have you. I am Mr. Victor Labisa Junior, Esquire. I am a retired director of the Legal Aid Council. I am presently into private practice now. I thank God for my life.

Exactly three years ago, I retired from the public service. I like going to court. I feel I am not tired yet. Thank you.

Q, That’s very good. Not tired, but retired.

NBA elections and controversies 

Sir, the Nigeria Bar Association,NBA, just recently had its election which was fraught with so many controversies. How would you want to comment on the election of the first elected female President in it’s history

A, Yeah, NBA. Well, I guess it’s good news. Definitely, feminism should not be called anything, but they’re entitled to be elected, and we’re glad that, yes, a woman has emerged. But the election itself, definitely, as you said, it was fraught with a lot of speculations, a lot of allegations. But particularly, I,  that have been voting for close to over 20, 30 years, this is the first time maybe I’m not voting in an election like this.

Q, Why?  If I may ask.

A, Especially when it became electronic. It’s the first time I’ve not voted because I couldn’t log in. I would have been glad to vote. I went to the website, tried to log in, tried so many times, more than 10 times. I was frustrated. I just dumped off the whole process and left because there were issues with the people that organized it, not the NBA. Well, maybe the NBA or the company that was nominated to do the portal.

Q, Why is election into the office of President of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, always more rancorous than that of other Associations in the country like the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, for example.

A, There is no organization that does not have issues with their elections.

Q, It seems to be more with the NBA, cause one can remember the year Akpambo contested.

A, Yes, after Akpambo was made the Attorney General of the federation during the Babangida’s regime, Kuye came , there was government support for a particular candidate. I remember vividly, there was chaos. The chaos was during the election of Kuye vs Dalhatu, that was in Port Harcourt. I was there, election didn’t take place. People said, Dalhatu was a government candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu of blessed memory was active to see that , that election didn’t hold. I recall, he went to the podium and seized the microphone shouting. He was one of the people that stood against them. There was obviously government interference, Babangida sponsored a candidate. That’s the most rancorous election NBA have had, others have been a bit flawless. I was an NBA chairman in 2006 and 2008, when the election of Agbakoba was held , that election was seamless, also that of Rotimi too. But the Gadzama’s election and that of Mahmud though not too rancorous but was not too smooth as people alleged that the thenPresident was interested in Mahmud. The only problem since it was zoned to the North,was who was to emerge from the zone. However this last election was controversial, not that it didn’t work but a lot of people were disenfranchised. Now that elections these days are digital, you can’t go to the floor , but can go to court as one of the candidates in the just concluded election has done, the court will be the final arbiter ultimately.

Q, The reason why I insist that NBA elections have always been rancorous is the 1990 NBA election in Port Harcourt, where some of my law student friends were drafted by a particular candidate to vote at that election –

– cuts in, well I wouldn’t know because I was not in that election, so I can’t talk about something that I don’t have facts about.

On the Osun governorship election 

Q, Away from legal matters , how would you score INEC in the just concluded Osun governorship election.

A, I can’t really allude the success of that election to INEC. INEC’s role is to provide the enabling environment. There were fears that the election would be marred by violence. However, we all saw that the revise was the case. The environment was calm, security was in place, some of the iREV worked and the most important thing is that voters protected their votes. If all this is in placed , then we can all clap for INEC.

 

Q,Coming to senator Fadahunsi, do you think, he should be walking the streets a free man after his scathing comments inciting violence against opposition?

A, You know in Nigeria, we know how to manipulate words. He later said, he never said anybody should be killed. Definitely, he should have been taken in, but he has been questioned anyway. Let’s see how it goes, he is still under investigation, let’s watch and see. That statement he made was uncalled for. By and large, there is a need for politicians to guide their words , reign in their supporters and let there be credible elections and Nigeria will be better for it.

On 2027 Elections 

Q, Campaigns for the 2027 elections kicked off yesterday the 19th, how do you think it will play out? Ans: like every election in Nigeria, the thugs will be hired, cars running around, loudspeakers blaring, party supporters against party supporters, I don’t think it’s going to be different from the past. President Tinubu has said all is fair in politics, the question is; what is fair. If you hire a million thugs and they beat up opponents ten thousand, the later will run away and allow you to do whatever you want to do. By and large, I hope it doesn’t get there. There is going to be a tough battle between the Parties , it might be very rough, considering the unemployment in the society, the youths that are jobless and wants to survive. With as little as two thousand naira, the can go out with clubs and machets and say they are campaigning and let out violence. We do not pray for it. If it continues like that, I don’t see a peaceful election next year.

Thank you very much sir.

You’re welcome.

To be continued —