15/09/2020
Edo2020: Lawyers resolve to Support Pastor Ize-Iyamu
"Like you have heard, a member of the Bar is calling for our support in the coming election. He has always stood by us, I urge all of us to support him".
With those words from Barrister Pius Oiwoh who is the Chairman, members of the Benin Branch, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA on Tuesday, resolved to support their colleague, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate to win Saturday's Edo state gubernatorial election.
The resolution was taken at the NBA meeting following a motion that was moved by Barrister Abraham Oviawe and seconded by Barrister Felix Isere, urging the lawyers to endorse Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who is also a lawyer.
The resolution was amplified by Chief Charles Idehen, a former President of the African Bar Association, ABA and the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, who said there was nothing wrong in the lawyers supporting one of their own in the election.
According to Idehen, who once contested the defunct Bendel state gubernatorial election, "Our Son is looking for elective position...we should support him. If we do not support him who is going to...We should support him because he is one of our own".
Mr Oiwoh who had asked the APC candidate to tell his colleagues about his plans for the State if he got elected as the governor also urged him to find solutions to the problems of Legal Assistants to Judges, Lawyers employed on contract by the State Justice Ministry and the issue of Judicial autonomy.
He said, "We are gathered here to listen to him, to also talk to us and tell us why of course we should consider and support him just as the way he has supported us".
According to Mr Oiwoh, the Bar has been faced with the challenges of legal assistants who are usually forced to retire prematurely when the judges who engaged them retired and the status of lawyers 'employed' by the State Justice Ministry.
He also said that whereas the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria prescribed financial autonomy for the Judicial arm of government, and there is a law to that effect, the Edo State Judiciary has been at the mercy of the Executive branch as far as funding is concerned. He said this is not healthy.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu who congratulated the lawyers for electing a New Branch exco, apologized for missing the meeting earlier scheduled for the weekend due to his tight schedule adding that the NBA remains his natural constituency.
He said his plan to move Edo state forward contained in his manifesto, the Simple Agenda is a roadmap he conceived four years ago knowing fully well that lawyers do not joke with documents, so he documented what he plans to do if he gets elected as governor.
The APC took time to explain all the six letters of the Simple Agenda and the solutions he has articulated to deal with insecurity, dilapidated infrastructure, healthcare and educational challenges facing the state, his plan to lead by example and create opportunities for Edo youths to have sustainable employment and empower women.
On the issues raised by the chairman of the NBA he read a section on Page 43 of the Simple Agenda which said, "we shall respect the autonomy of the three arms of government namely the Executive, the Legislature and the judicial and shall ensure their development, welfare and efficiency".
On why they should support his election bid, he said "Quite honestly, I think it is time we have a learned colleague as the Chief Executive of Edo state. Its a shame that as vibrant as the legal profession is, Edo state has been ruled for so many years without a lawyer as Chief Executive".
Present at the event were Past Chairmen of the Branch, Senior lawyers among others.
