How I’ll reunite NBA, by Akpata

Aggrieved lawyers from the North who are protesting against the withdrawal of the NBA’s invitation extended to Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufia as a guest speaker, had, on the eve of the inauguration of the new executive, formed a parallel body called New Nigeria Bar Association (NNBA).

In a statement signed by leaders of the group, Nuhu Ibrahim and Adulbasit Suleiman, the new association noted that the formation of NNBA was to protect their interests which they claimed have been trampled upon.

They also said that the constitution of Nigeria guarantees their freedom of association, particularly as Section 40 of the constitution overrides any other law that purports to tie them to the NBA.

At the peak of the controversies on NBA’s withdrawal of el-Rufia’s invitation to the association’s annual conference, another group of lawyers also called for the withdrawal of invitations extended to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

But NBA did not heed the call, prompting another organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) to describe the action of NBA as a declaration of war.

One of the aggrieved lawyers, who did want his name on print, said the plan was to precipitate a major crisis that would warrant the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to sanction NBA and possibly set up a caretaker committee to manage its affairs under the CAC Act.

All attempts to reach Akpata to specifically address the split failed, as calls to his phone rang out. But in his inaugural speech, Akpata described the development as unfortunate.

“I am also not unaware of very recent events and agitations that have tended to divide our Bar along regional and religious lines.

This is rather unfortunate for an egalitarian association like ours,” he said. According to him, “the Bar that I want to lead henceforth is one that is united on all fronts and that recognises that our diversity is, perhaps, our greatest strength.”

He pleaded with all Nigerian lawyers to bear this philosophy of unity in mind as the new executive commences a new journey.

He said the enormous task ahead cannot be achieved if lawyers continue to fan the embers of division at a time when members of the NBA desperately need to unite and speak with one firm voice.

“We must be kind, magnanimous, respectful, and sensitive in our words and actions, as doing otherwise would be a great disservice to our vision of building a stronger and formidable Bar.

Now is the time to come together because a divided Bar is a defeated Bar,” he said.

Akpata who believed that his election victory was divinely orchestrated, said that as soon as the result was announced, he called on his supporters to desist from joining issues or otherwise attacking other lawyers, especially senior members of the Bar.

He said lawyers should be magnanimous in victory because the profession is a noble one that prides itself on a high sense of discipline, learning, respect for seniority and character.

He said, “The mandate that I have from Nigerian lawyers is to work for all members of the Bar, irrespective of who they voted for.”

Akpata noted that in recent times, the law profession has witnessed brazen encroachment into its turf by other professions and private organisations like banks, consulting firms and property firms.

He said he would personally engage the leadership of these organisations and prevail on them to refrain from encroaching into areas that are the exclusive preserve of lawyers.

“One hallmark of my administration shall be constructive engagement with the heads of the major regulatory agencies to ensure better synergy with the NBA in the interest of our members.

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“In this regard, one of my first tasks as President shall be to engage with the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), to resolve some of the outstanding issues that led to the recent protests by members of our association and to find a lasting solution to them.

“Criticisms from some quarters have also trailed the passage of Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020. We shall constructively engage with CAC in this regard to allay the fears of our members and indeed, the general populace.”