BEYOND PRAISE AND PLEASANTRIES: SUCCEEDING AS BAR LEADER

When you win an election in the NBA, you are celebrated, the congratulations roll in and you feel a sense of anxiety and relief at the same time. They pat you in the back and they show you your chair and you sit down with a sense of accomplishment. The reality is that, your test as a leader just began, you may have won the majority of the votes but yet to win the hearts and respect of any one member. One easily forgets that you also become a leader to those who didn't vote for you and the interesting thing is that, those who didn't vote for you are actually more than those who did. The first test is about who to trust to follow through on the vision you set for yourself in the chair you sit. The second test is to trust yourself and your integrity to make unbiased decisions especially when those decisions favour your opponents during the electioneering period The third test is to be able to accept that others actually can do the job better than you can and in allowing them to get the job done under your leadership There is alot to leadership in the NBA but the most honourable type of leadership is the one which requires no position to perform a Duty. The most recent NBA elections held by NBA Lagos Branch ushers in a new era of leaders. A few NBA branches have also recently elected new and promising leaders BUT these leaders have come at a most difficult time in our profession. These new leaders cannot afford to take a day off. While those who have just handed over say they want to rest, (which I personally think is not the best decision to make) the new leaders must consolidate and refuse to allow those who served before take that rest. The Bar has nearly collapsed because of lack of continuity and suffers from an abandonment syndrome perpetrated by senior lawyers and past leaders. We cannot continue this way! New leaders should get ready for the task ahead and be prepared to sacrifice their time, talent and treasure to win the race. I want to specially mention *Bisi Makanjuola* of NBA Lagos Branch and his Executives for the work they did during their tenure in office. I congratulate him and his team for bringing back the NBA of old, the leadership of old, the integrity of old and the impact of old. The legal profession in this country must rise to it's rightful status as the protector of the rule of law...... it will take all of us to achieve this great feat! By Bayo Akinlade Esq, Fmr Chairman, NBA Ikorodu Branch