KEY POINTS

• Olanipekun urges lawyers to focus on legacy-building, not rivalry.
• He warns against envy, blackmail, and malicious campaigns.
• Fagbemi hails the NBA Ibadan Branch for its role in nation-building.

Wole Olanipekun (SAN), a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has called on Nigerian lawyers to focus on building legacies rather than engaging in the “pull-him-down” syndrome.

Speaking at the 70th anniversary celebration of the NBA Ibadan Branch on Monday, Olanipekun emphasized the importance of upholding the values and legacies established by past legal luminaries.

Addressing the gathering at the Afe Babalola Bar Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, Olanipekun criticized modern legal practitioners for prioritizing personal interests over the collective good.

“Lawyers today are only good in pull-him-down syndrome instead of building on what the fathers of the legal profession had built in Ibadan branch 70 years ago,” he lamented.

The former NBA president praised the contributions of pioneers like the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who established one of the earliest legal practices in the Yoruba interior in 1947.

According to Punch, he also mentioned notable figures like Harrison Obafemi and S.A. Ogunleye, whose efforts led to the creation of the NBA Ibadan Branch in 1954.

Olanipekun urged lawyers to draw inspiration from these trailblazers and commit to strengthening the legal profession rather than engaging in destructive rivalries.

Shun envy, blackmail, and campaign of calumny, Olanipekun warns

In his address, Olanipekun cautioned lawyers against envy, blackmail, and treachery, emphasizing that these vices only breed hatred and weaken the profession.

He advised them to avoid mudslinging, malicious campaigns, and actions that undermine the efforts of their colleagues.

“Flee from envy like a plague, for envy breeds hatred and unjustified contempt for others. Appreciate your colleagues, and peers, as well as senior members of the profession who have received God’s benevolence and pray that your own time will come,” he said.

According to Olanipekun, the key to professional success lies in supporting and encouraging one another.

He highlighted the importance of celebrating the achievements of senior colleagues and maintaining a positive attitude toward growth and excellence.

The message was clear, lawyers must shift their focus from personal ambition to collective progress, as this approach will drive the development of Nigeria’s legal system.

Fagbemi applauds Ibadan NBA for contributions to nation-building

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), also lauded the NBA Ibadan Branch for its contributions to Nigeria’s legal development.

As a member of the Ibadan Bar, Fagbemi acknowledged the role of the branch in nurturing brilliant legal minds who have significantly advanced the rule of law in the country.

He noted that the legacy of excellence and diligence established by the Ibadan Bar has left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s legal system.

“Over the years, the premier Bar has consistently stood tall among its peers, producing some of the most brilliant and highly revered legal minds, jurists, and practitioners,” Fagbemi said.

The Attorney General described the branch as a “beacon of legal practice” that has contributed to justice delivery, human rights promotion, and nation-building.

He called on lawyers to honor the legacy of the branch and strive for continued excellence in the legal profession.

The 70th anniversary celebration of the NBA Ibadan Branch served as a reminder of the enduring legacy of past legal icons and the responsibility placed on current practitioners to continue that tradition.