The yearly general meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which opened yesterday in Lagos, offered the leading presidential candidates the platform to share their ‘bold visions’ for 2023, signposting what to expect as campaigns officially begin next month.
Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of LP, SDP candidate Adewole Adebayo, APGA’s Prof. Peter Umeadi and Dumebi Kachikwu of the ADC, and Kashim Shettima, the running mate of Bola Tinubu of the APC, all took turns to share their thoughts and plans for Nigeria’s greatness at the event.
Earlier, award-winning novelist, Chimamanda Adichie, in her keynote address, said Nigerians, especially young citizens, do not have enough leaders to look up to in the current system. She said: “We are starved of heroes. Our young people do not find people to look up to anymore.”
The speaker said it was important for everyone to speak out against injustice and tyranny, even if they were called troublemakers.
Adiche said Nigerians must be fair in their criticisms before peace can thrive. She said they should become responsible before holding the leaders responsible.
“As long as we refuse to untangle the knot of injustice, peace cannot thrive. If we don’t talk about it, we fail to hold leaders accountable and we turn what should be transparent systems into ugly opaque cults.
“My experience made me think there’s something dead in us, in our society; a death of self-awareness and ability for self-criticism.
“There’s a need for resurrection. We cannot avoid self-criticism but criticize the government. We cannot hide our institutional failure while demanding transparency from the government.”
In her closing remarks, she advocated for an uncorrupted judicial system and called on the NBA to leverage technology in the judicial process and the administration of justice in the country.
Source: Guardian NG