By Ogheneluemu Sylvester Imonina, Esq
For the past two days, there have being caustic and venomous criticisms, poured on NBA for inviting VDM to the NBA Annual General Conference, holding in Port-Harcourt. These criticisms are not unrelated to the fact that VDM is seen by some persons as someone who applies unconventional methods in carrying out his activism besides the fact that some see him as someone who is not lettered to the extent of sitting amongst lawyers. Some are also of the view that VDM does not have what it takes to speak at the gathering of lawyers (NBA Annual General Conference)!
Well, I hardly watch videos of VDM’s activities but from the little I have seen about him, his type is needed in a country where those who are supposed to speak truth to power keep their mouth shut out of ignorance of the powers they are vested with or fear of trying to avoid finding themselves on collision course with those who they supposedly depend on for daily bread!
Law is supposed to be a tool for social engineering and breeding harmony in the society. In our present day Nigeria, law is seen by the common man as a machinery of oppression and suppression of the weak, to the advantage of the privileged.
VDM reminds me of the Biblical story of allocation of talents by the Master to His servants. The story made us to understand that he that fails to use his talents, same shall be taken from him and given to he that displays industry in using the talents given to him. In other words, more shall be given to he that uses it for his good and the good of the majority, not he that would bury his God-given talents.
As a lawyer of between the ages of 3-10 years post-call, i did over 100 pro bono (free) cases as the Delta State Legal Adviser of Committee For The Defence Of Human Rights. Within that period, Oghenejabor Ikimi, Esq. was the State Legal Adviser. I can say without any air of contradiction that any Police Station I and other legal Breeds of Ikimi, Esq. entered, we were seen by the Police as their “tormentors-in-chief”. What gave us joy then was the applause we got from members of the public. Being called human right activists and social crusaders was enough for us, not monetary attachment unlike some cashtivists parading themselves as activists today! Though, some people who were capable of paying us well as lawyers did hide themselves under the canopy of human right crusade to exploit us; no regrets over what we stood for!
Days ago, Liberia former President, George Weah did say that a good lawyer is not the one who has plethora of titles nor deep pocket but he who stands for the good of the majority, particularly the downtrodden. The question that comes to mind is; in Nigeria/the legal profession of today, how many of us (lawyers) give 5-10% of our time/resources for pro bono cases, and/or being on the side of the oppressed and suppressed in Nigeria?
Most of us have failed those who look up to us. We failed to speak when we are supposed to speak. We also failed to act when we are supposed to act. Therefore, VDM and his likes who are doing some of our works for the good of the society should not be handed over to “evil Pontius Pilate of our time” for crucifixion, rather, he should be encouraged to refine his ways of doing things. VDM deserves our applause for doing what some of us are afraid of doing as lawyers, not total condemnation.
In the words of Wafarians, “If na beefing dey make some of una dey criticize VDM, make una stopam”.
Ogheneluemu Sylvester Imonina, Esq. writes from Ozoro.
