The Nigerian Bar Association on Friday urged Nigerians to
exercise patience with President Muhammadu Buhari over
perceived lopsidedness in the appointments he has made so far.
NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, spoke to journalists
shortly after reading the communiqué issued at the end of the
one-week long 55th Annual Bar Conference of the association in
Abuja.

Buhari, whose latest appointments were announced on
Thursday, had come under fire from various quarters with the
majority of those he had appointed so far being from the North
and particularly his North-West geo-political zone.

But Alegeh said he believed Buhari meant well for the country
and urged Nigerians to exercise patience till when all other
appointments were made before criticising him for breach of the
principle of Federal Character.

He said, “Probably, these are key technical positions that are
being filled by the most competent available persons. But you
can always compensate when you are making other ministerial
appointments. I think we should all be patience and should
always have trust and confidence in the people we have elected.

“We must know that the President won election with many
people contributing to the election. So, let us look at the
appointments he has made along those lines. I have listened to
the President speak and I can see his conviction in a greater
and better Nigeria.

“I am not a party man, and I am not his personal friend, but
from what I have seen, I have no doubt in my mind that he
means the best for Nigeria, that he will not do anything to
infringe the Nigerian Constitution. But let us wait for all the
appointments to be in before we start talking of Federal
Character.”

In its communiqué, the NBA called for the abolition of fixed
charge being paid by electricity consumers in the country on the
ground that it is unjustifiable and illegal.

It recommended that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission’s policy on maintenance fees charged on meters
amount to oppressive, multiple taxation and should be
discontinued forthwith.

The association also called for the abolition of oil subsidy
policy in view of the corruption in the process and suggested
transparent harnessing and deployment of the nation’s
resources.

NBA, which justified the law prohibiting same-sex marriage,
said the law on prohibition of the practice “does not amount to
a violation of any individual’s fundamental human rights.”

On the position of the law on the role of First Ladies, the
association noted that although wives of the President and
governors could contribute to national development, “there is no
constitutional recognition of that office. The First Lady is to
complement the duties of the President and not embark on any
parallel programme already captured within various ministries.”

“Projects of the First Lady should be funded from the private
sector and not from public funds,” it added.

The NBA said it would partner with government in the fight
against corruption and work towards achieving a positive
attitude against corruption among the Bench and Bar.