Ahead of the 2026 presidential election of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), two legal luminaries, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) have urged their members to vote for any candidate from Osun state, saying it would then be the turn of Oyo/Osun block to produce NBA President.
The Eastern Forum of the association is preparing to present the next president to succeed the incumbent Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), who is winding up his 2-year tenure in July 2024. He is from the Northern Forum of the Bar.
The two legal luminaries gave the advice at the NBA Oyo branch’s One Day Symposium and Bar Dinner organized by the Jide Olanipekun-led executive, held at Labamba Hotel in Oyo Town. The symposium was themed: “The Judiciary as the last hope of common man: A myth or reality?”
At the symposium the duo preached fairness and equity among the members in the old Western region, arguing that Edo and Delta block had produced candidates in 2020 and 2014 and won against the South West candidates because they failed to present a unanimous candidate.
Justifying why Osun should be voted in 2026, Chief Akintola said: “We had a meeting of Egbe Amofin comprising the six states of the South West including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo. In order that there could be peace and tranquility as is done in the Judiciary where they elevate our judges based on block arrangement, by the time the presidency of the Bar comes to Yoruba’s turn, Oyo and Osun are the next to present candidates.
“And we said that between Oyo and Osun, you members should give preference to Osun. The reason is that in Ekiti and Ondo, our two leaders (Chief Wole Olanipekun and late Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (SANs) had done it. In Oyo and Osun, Chief Richard Akinrinde (SAN) of late memory who hailed from Ibadan, did it. And he was the only one who had been NBA President in that block. Osun has never tasted it.
“In Lagos and Ogun block, eight people had done it. Fair is fair; it is only Osun that has not produced an NBA President. I am from Oyo, but I will not deceive you, and I will not deprive you of your tightness. We had done it before, but Osun has not. We are elderly and so we cannot create problems for you younger ones. Talk to yourselves and agree that it is the turn of the Osun people. Tell your colleagues from Ondo and Ekiti that it is the turn of Osun. We are all one. From Saare to Ogun State, we are all children of Alaafin and so we need to act in unity. Let us act as Omoluabi that we are. That is our position among the Egbe Amofin in Yorubaland.”
While corroborating Akintola’s position, Olanipekun said, “in Ekiti and Ondo, there would have even been three persons from that block if Dele Adesina, whom we sponsored, had won. Don’t let us shy away from the truth. Don’t run away from the truth. That is the essence of humanity. It is the acid test. We made that decision. Leadership is about being frank, being honest; standing by the truth.
“Two years is around the corner. Ajise bi Oyo laari, Oyo kii se bii Omo enikookan. Let there be unity in Yorubaland. It was in my house that everybody said let it be Akeredolu, and nobody contested against him. If Yoruba people have identified somebody, let it be. It is the turn of Osun/Oyo. So, let it be.”
