By Barnabas Augustine
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has said his government will work with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to develop Adamawa State.
The governor made the statement while receiving the newly elected executive of the NBA Yola, Adamawa Branch, in his office at Government House, Yola.
He said he would collaborate with the NBA to develop the state, specifically to combat poverty, which had recently sparked protests across the country that nearly plunged the nation into turmoil.
The governor announced his administration's readiness to support the NBA in attending this year's national conference in Lagos, within the limits of government resources, while congratulating the newly elected executive of the NBA Yola, Adamawa Branch. He noted their emergence as the new executive committee when the country faced numerous challenges.
Lauding the NBA's role in ensuring the rule of law in the country, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri praised the Nigeria Bar Association for its part in ensuring that the tribunal case for the last general election was heard in Yola rather than Abuja. He said the NBA had insisted that the state was safe for the tribunal to sit, against the wishes of those who wanted to manipulate the election. He noted their role in being impartial and ensuring that the rule of law prevailed.
It may be recalled that the announcement of the 2023 gubernatorial election winner in Adamawa State by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, while the collection of results was still ongoing is some polling units where rerun election were conducted in Adamawa State, plunged the state into political chaos. This was followed by attempts to move the tribunal to Abuja, but the NBA stood its ground for justice to prevail. The Supreme Court later voided the announcement made by the Resident Electoral Commissioner.
The new executive of the NBA Adamawa Branch, led by its chairman, Idi Ali, said they were at Government House Yola to thank Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for graciously supporting the executive committee meeting of the NBA held in Adamawa State. Adding that Adamawa State had hosted the meeting three times, surpassing other states in the North-East.
Barr. Ali lauded the gigantic projects undertaken by Governor Fintiri in the state. He described the school buses launched as world-class, similar to those used in developed countries.
He thanked the governor for supporting the NBA Yola, Adamawa Branch, in attending the association's national conference and solicited the same support for this year's conference later this month in Lagos.