Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has called on the Nigerian Bar Association to ensure that the rule of law is respected and obeyed in the country.

Ewhrudjakpo, who made the call during a courtesy call by NBA president, Afam Osigwe, to his office in Yenagoa, urged privileged politicians not to take the resilience and silence of Nigerians for granted.

In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Doubara Atasi, on Monday, the deputy governor expressed deep concern over the state of affairs in the country, especially with regard to the rule of law.

He observed that there was so much aberration in the land and called for concerted efforts and prayers to save the country from avoidable civil unrest.

According to him, the NBA has a statutory role and what it takes to defend constitutionalism and the rule of law to the letter, warning that if nothing is done, it may lead to anarchy and complete breakdown of law and order.

He also congratulated the NBA president, as well as the chairmen of the Yenagoa and Sagbama branches of the NBA in the state, on their elections and wished them success.

He stated, “The NBA needs to do a little more; yes, you are trying your best, but the NBA needs to step up its game because we are now in a society where the level of lack of or disrespect for the rule of law is getting to an unacceptable level.

“I get very worried each time I see people behave as if we are in a society where laws are thrown overboard, and we do whatever we like. The NBA needs to do more to ensure that the rule of law, especially as provided in Section 1 of the Constitution, is upheld in terms of the supremacy of the law and the authority of the law.

“The aberration and the level of brazenness are getting to a point where, if we are not careful, we may end up in civil unrest. It is my fervent prayer that we turn a new leaf to save this country.”

Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said he was in the state for a solidarity visit, standing by the NBA legal family, the judiciary and the state government on its efforts towards securing the release of Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro.

Osigwe commended the state government, the Bayelsa State Chief Judge, the Commissioner of Police, and other stakeholders for their show of concern, love, and practical measures taken to free Justice Omukoro.

He was accompanied on the visit by the Chairman of the Yenagoa branch of the NBA, Clement Kekemeke, and his Sagbama counterpart, Mr. Ogheneohuko Sampson.