By Innocent  Anaba

LAGOS — As the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, prepares for its delegate conference in Abuja next week, more lawyers in the country have endorsed the candidature of Mr Dele Adesina, SAN as the next president of the association.

Former governor of Cross River State and lawyer, Mr Donald Duke; human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana SAN; former President, International Federation of Women lawyers, FIDA; former governor general of the Eastern Bar Forum, Professor Ernest Ojukwu, and former president of the association, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN have publicly endorsed the candidature of Adesina, who served as secretary of the association under Olanipekun.

The race is among Adesina; Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN; Mr Austin Alegeh, SAN and Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN.

Already, 15 of the 23 branches in the South-West have endorsed Adesina while he also enjoys a comfortable lead in the branches of the Eastern Bar Forum. The Arewa Forum, the umbrella association of the Northern lawyers, is expected to decide who to give their block votes this weekend.

Falana in a video cast said: “I have known Dele Adesina since our youthful days.  He is a committed bar activist who has served the NBA in various capacities in the last 30 years. He is the man needed at this point in time to bring about change in the bar. His is passionately committed to good governance and the rule of law.”

Donald Duke said: “The NBA, like most Nigerian institutions, requires able and a tested leadership, particularly in these times that various Nigerian institutions are threatened for want of good leadership. This is not the time to try new ones. This is because the NBA plays a very critical role in our democracy and rule of law. Adesina has the personality to galvanise Nigerian lawyers together to work together as a team.”

Also MrsUgomma,  in a goodwill message, said: “I have just gone through your campaign materials and I must say that I am quite impressed by your formidable profile. I have therefore, come to the irresistible conclusion that you are the candidate to beat in this election. I wish you best of luck.”