RISING from a one-week annual general conference Friday held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in a communiqué, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to demonstrate clearly the qualities of justice, equity and fairness as cardinal points of nation-building in his transformation agenda.
The president of the association, Mr. Oke Wali (SAN), who read the communiqué, said Nigerians are yearning for good leadership to build a united country, saying Jonathan has the opportunity of achieving that for the survival of the country.
He also urged Nigerians to demonstrate a collective sense of patience, accommodation and tolerance with the administration where it has shown clear commitment in delivering on its promises.
The association resolved that governance should focus on technical problems of political legitimacy, administrative and legal capacity and the improvement of public sector management, the legal framework for development and accountability through better auditing. It also advocated for decentralisation of government, proper policing of corruption, civil service reforms and improved information on policy issues for both decision makers and the public.
Wali said the Bar condemned in strong terms the deplorable security situation in the country and challenged the federal government to review the strategy for fighting kidnapping and terrorism in order to protect lives and property of citizens.
The Bar called on the government to comprehensively study the issue of state police to identify its relevance as the panacea for crime fighting.
It deplored the recent kidnap of one its own, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), whose whereabouts remains unknown one week after. It tasked the relevant authorities to secure his release and ensure that he rejoins his family.
However, the association identified corruption and unemployment as being responsible for the degenerating security situation in the country. It therefore, urged the government to adopt the South African Constitution on Cap 9 which provides for the independence of State institutions which subject themselves to only to the Constitution and the law without reference to individuals no matter their in government.
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