From Moshood Karim
BENIN CITY – The Chairman of the Benin Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Nosa Francis Edo-Osagie, has charged candidates of various political parties in the upcoming 2024 Edo gubernatorial election to adhere strictly to the rules of the game.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of 2024 Law Week of the Benin Bar, themed “Law As A Tool For Economic Advancement And National Security,” on Monday in Benin City, Chief Edo-Osagie emphasized the importance of maintaining order and legality during the electoral process.
“Some of the candidates are members of the Nigerian Bar Association,” Chief Edo-Osagie noted. “But what is critical to the NBA is that they must play by the rule; otherwise, there will be consequences, anarchy. My advice is that for all the party candidates, they must by necessity play by the rule.”
The Law Week event, held in the Edo State capital, brought together a meticulous assemblage of legal minds to deliberate on pressing societal issues from a legal perspective.
Prominent political figures participating in the event included Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, and the APGA candidate, among others.
“They are coming to tell you what they are made of and what the society should expect from them,” Chief Edo-Osagie continued.
“This is a legal activity that affects humanity. Don’t forget, lawyers, particularly the Nigerian Bar Association, are in the vanguard of the promotion of the rule of law in society and the quest for an egalitarian society.
“These are tools we use to shape the society and the only tools known to lawyers. This is the second event I am hosting as the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin branch, and I assure you this year’s event will be much more spectacular than the previous year.”
Governor Godwin Obaseki, represented by the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, declared the event open. He congratulated the NBA for the timely theme of the event, considering the current national economic and security challenges.
“The NBA is taking the lead in placing law at the epicenter of economic advancement, as law is central as a major determinant to investment and economic growth,” he said.
Addressing the significance of law in economic advancement and national security, Governor Obaseki emphasized, “For without investment, both foreign and domestic, there would be no economic advancement. Law, therefore, is a major determinant of economic advancement and national security. Investment would run away where there is no security, not only political security but economic security, because an average investor will not come into a place where he is not sure he will get his capital and interest out of that place.”
The Chairman of the ceremony, Hon. Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Chief Judge of Edo State, praised the event’s organization, highlighting the role of law in ensuring economic development and national security.
He quoted the Nigerian Constitution, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of its people, as well as to promote balanced economic development.
In his keynote address, delivered by Chief G. Igbokwe (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) underscored the importance of effectively handling the Nigerian constitution and legislation by the actors in the three arms of government. He suggested that this would lead to unprecedented prosperity in the form of economic growth and national security.
At the afternoon session of the opening day ceremony, the governorship Candidate of the People’s Democractic Party, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, delivered virtually a lecture on the topic: “Foreign Direct Investment: A Sure Way to Economic Stability and Investment Security”.
He advocated effective legal framework, enabling environment, skillset, security, Public Private Partnership, efficient justice system, manpower development as key to attracting direct foreign investment.
The Law Week, an annual event of the Benin NBA, will continue until Friday, June 28, 2024, with various activities lined up to engage and enlighten participants on the intersection of law, economic advancement, and national security.
Other dignitaries and legal luminaries who graced the occasion are: The Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, Solicitor-General of Edo State, Prof. Faith Osadolor, Chairman of the 2024 Annual Law Week Committee of the Benin Bar, Hon. Paschal Ugbome, former Attorney General of Edo State, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, member of the Edo State Judicial Service Commission, Elder Dele Edokpayi Esq, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Ken E. Mozia among others.
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