The need for a stronger judiciary, respect for the rule of law and greater commitment to democratic values has taken centre stage at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Former Liberian President, George Weah and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, speaking at the conference, challenged lawyers, judges and other stakeholders to go beyond existing limitations in building stronger democratic institutions.
For the Nigerian legal profession, the theme of this year’s conference, “Beyond Limits” is more than a slogan.
It is a call to confront the challenges limiting Nigeria’s democratic and institutional development.
The keynote address by former Liberian President George Weah drew from his journey in the streets of Monrovia to the presidency of Liberia.
Weah said the theme of the conference reflects a central lesson of his life, that circumstances should never determine a person’s ultimate destination.
But beyond his personal story, the former Liberian leader focused his address on the responsibility of lawyers and judges in protecting democratic institutions.
The former football star, turned President urged the Nigerian Bar Association to see itself as a guardian of democracy rather than merely a professional body concerned with the welfare of its members, warning that democracy is threatened not only by forces outside government, but also by weakened institutions, particularly when the judiciary loses its independence and public confidence.
For Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the judiciary occupies a critical position in protecting the ordinary citizen and sustaining democracy.
He described the courts as a refuge for the common man, stressing that judicial decisions must take into account their wider impact on society.
He called on lawyers to speak truth to power whenever democratic institutions or citizens’ rights are threatened.
Governor Fubara further challenged the Bar and the Bench to confront obstacles that prevent citizens from accessing justice.
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(Editor: Ken Eseni)
