The president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (SAN), has apologised to Nigerians over the failure of lawyers to provide direction on how to advance the country.
He gave the apology during the opening of the first State of the Nation Dialogue on Security, Economy and Administration of Justice in Abuja on Monday.
“I dare say, with the utmost respect, that to a large extent, our experience today as a country is a direct result of the legal profession’s abdication of the duty to provide direction and leadership to the people,” Maikyau said.
“I must, therefore, as one who is privileged to lead the Bar at this time, apologise to Nigerians for the abdication of our role.
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“Today, as members of the Bar, we are reputed more for how much fees we charge our clients as opposed to the discharge of our primary call to offer guidance and/or offer ourselves for the advancement of the cause of our country.
“This apology is necessary because, no other group of professionals is called to this privileged position as the lawyers, which also comes with corresponding responsibility to provide leadership.”
In her keynote address, the Deputy Secretary of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed advocated for those seeking offices in Nigeria’s election to focus on building strong institutions, access to justice, women and gender inclusion.
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