Dearest Colleagues, LETTER OF APPRECIATION

To All members
Nigeria Bar Association,
Benin Branch.
C/o
The Chairman
Benin Branch,
(The Lion Bar House),
Benin City.

Dearest Colleagues,
LETTER OF APPRECIATION
It is with great joy and pleasure that I write You again, with profound gratitude and grace as a demonstration and show of my appreciation. It was -Theodore M. Hesburgh, who once said that "The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet." Marie Curie, once retorted that “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less”
With the above quotes, I wish to use this medium to express with humility, my profound appreciation and adulation to you our members, for the overwhelming support and outpouring of love, commitment and zeal, demonstrated yesterday.
This journey for me started as a joke and many thought it was a flash in the pan and others tagged it a mission impossible, but steady but surely it metamorphosed, into a movement of such monumental proportions, detailing my most sublime creative wishes and ideas, born out of my life lessons and aspirations to serve you, my noble association.
Like the saying goes; we came, we saw, but couldn’t conquer this time around, not because we did not work hard enough to earn your trust, but because the time wasn’t ripe enough to give expressions to our collective dream. The battle has been fought and won, but truth be told, I personally lost nothing but gained even more, in terms of new life lessons, more relational and work experiences of friendships and capacity to withstand any challenge.
I, use this medium to congratulate my learned friend and Brother Mr. Ogaga Emoghanre, for his robust competitive spirit,sportsmanship and resilience, I wish him well as he strives to do better in projecting the image of the NBA Benin branch at this time, which is that of nobility, astuteness and a very high sense of professionalism, same felicitation goes to the brand new executive ably led by my boss Mr. P.I Oiwoh.
I also wish to sincerely thank the various interest groups within the NBA Benin, for giving me and my team the much needed platform to articulate our thoughts and cross fertilize ideas. I specially thank the Benin lawyers forum (Otu Omogui) ably led by prof. O.G Izevbuwa and his team, Prof. Ibe and his team of the Igbo lawyers forum, Mr. Jonathan Iyobhebhe and his team of the Esan lawyers forum, the FIDA members and exco. ably led, by the very delectable Iryn Omorogiuwa Esq. The entire membership of the young lawyers forum Benin, many of whom were disenfranchised by no fault of theirs, the body of senior Advocates(BOSAN) Benin branch, ably represented by very distinguished and eminent personalities and renowned advocates, with particular mention are, Mr. J.O Aghimien SAN, Chief Charles Adogah SAN, Chief H.O Ogbodu SAN, Mr. G.C Igbokwe SAN, Mr. K.E Mozia SAN, Mr. Ighodalo Imadegbelo SAN, Mr Omonuwa SAN, Mr. Dan Ose okoh SAN, Mr. A.O Alegeh SAN (Past President NBA), Mr. Wole Iyamu SAN Honourable solicitor General Edo state and Pa. Solomon Asemota SAN, in no particular order. I thank you all specially for the immeasurable sacrifice you made, to save the Benin Bar from the brink of near collapse.
May I also thank the following past chairmen and secretaries, whose leadership style and disposition, ignited my passion for the service of the Benin Bar, at the earliest opportunity, special mention must be made of some of our fathers and leaders, in the profession, in no particular order, Mr. Solomon Odiase, thanks for being a father indeed, Mr. Razak Isenahlume,(bencher), Mrs Egbe Okojie zonal Director National population commission for being a pillar of support at all times, to my staunchest supporter and super structure in the Benin Bar, whom I call the Amazonia Princess (Mrs.) P.I Iyomon, whose selflessness and genuine commitment to see me grow in life and practice is for now incomparable to none, I thank you specially and hope I didn’t disappoint you, this time! to my very own boss and leader Prince C.B Ogiegbaen for believing in me, thank you and other past chairmen for the encouragement and support all through this phase.
Also many thanks to Mr. David Maduku, Mr. O.G Omonuwa, Mr. Pius Idemudia Oiwoh (Secretary as he then was) now Chairman of the most progressive and vibrant Bar branch in Nigeria, under whom I served as Assistant Secretary, thanks for your years of service to our association.
Special mention must also be made of my very distinguished seniors, Mr. Santos Owootori, for his personal support, advice and commitment to most of my projects, even at time, when it not convenient , I must also thank Mr. Harold G. Erhabor, my leader and silent mentor, whose calm disposition to life’s battles has taught me to always keep calm and worry less at all times, to the hard working D.G of my campaign organization, Mrs. Victoria Ezeigwe, you remained not just a business partner but a friend now closer than a sister, and to my other team members and supporters too numerous to mention, ably represented by U.Airende Esq. I thank you all most sincerely. I also thank Mr. Charity Aiguobawheghian (Chairman Law review commission Edo state) for your great support at every step of the way same also goes to our amiable Attorney General of Edo State and her entire team of state counsel at the ministry of justice and the learnedDPP mrs Adekanbi. I mostly humbly thank my mentor and silent role model Chief Arthur Obi Okafor SAN of the Asaba branch of the NBA, who has remained a father figure to me, ever since our path crossed. I won’t also fail to thank Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi who for one reason or the other worked tirelessly in this election and became D.G at some point and took special interest in the position of Publicity Secretary, I personally apologize to you this day if you feel offended by my actions or inaction, during the course of my interactions and campaigns, I bear no grudges against you, the great OTUNBA, or anyone else for that matter, I appreciate you all my distinguished seniors and colleagues, we all must not agree in principle at all times, but we must however disagree to agree at some point, as we go further in this life’s journey, you all remain a shining light and an embodiment, of what is possible if only we work hard enough and believe in our dreams.
Once again, I thank the entire leadership and members of the NBA Benin branch, for coming out and demonstrating to the larger society that we are capable of organizing ourselves and consolidating on our democratic gains for the happiness and welfare of all our members. In conclusion, it was Lao Tzu that once said “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love”
Thank you all for showing me love, kindness and forgiving all my perceived transgressions, we shall be here again come 2022 God willing, to kick start another robust conversation for a Bar that will truly reflect our collective hopes and aspirations.
Till I write to you again, let’s keep the conversation of consolidation and progress going.
Yours in Service. Dennis Osaretin Esq 31/8/2020