Headlines
Formation of New NBA by Northerners, Gradual Disintegration of Nigeria?
By Eric Elezuo
Two lawyers, on Friday, spearheaded a mutiny that culminated into the breaking away of some lawyers from the northern parts of Nigeria to form what they termed New Nigeria Bar Association. The two lawyers, Nuhu Ibrahim (Convener 1) and Abdulbasit Suleiman (Convener 2), explained that the formation of the ‘New NBA’ was aimed at protecting their interests as enshrined under Section 40 of the constitution.
What looks like the climax of a series of events that preceded the 2020 NBA Conference, may have unconsciously triggered the disintegration of the entity called Nigeria as the breakaway was motivated on religious and ethnic grounds.
The so called ‘New NBA,’ cited the controversy over the withdrawal of the invite to the governor as a major reason they seek to breakaway, saying, “What has been happening recently has exposed the inability of the NBA to manage and contain the heterogeneity of its members, as well as their various interests. Its penal powers have been deployed discriminately on the basis of ethnicity and regionalism.
“As a body of lawyers, who have undergone training towards ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights and liberties, the NBA is supposed to live above sentiments, regionalism and discrimination on any basis and of any kind.
“Therefore, the NBA cannot afford to be seen not to be upholding the rights and freedom of its own members, if at all it should be seen to be practising what it preaches. As the Hausa saying goes, ‘Idan Kura tana maganin zaho, ta yi ma kanta (If a hyena has a cure for diarrhoea, let her use it for herself).’”
It would be recalled that National Executive Committee of the NBA had on August 20, 2020, following a petition signed over 3400 lawyers, withdrawn the invitation extended to Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as a speaker at the conference. The withdrawal was as a result of El-Rufai’s poor human rights record as well as the incessant killings ongoing in Southern Kaduna, according to sponsors of the petition. The invitation was therefore withdrawn by popular demand.
But this did not go down well with some lawyers from the north, who heeded the call by the Muslim Rights Commission (MURIC) to boycott the conference, and went a step further to pull out of the national body and form a new one.
Expressing his disgust, Constitutional Lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome hinted the dangers inherent in the path the lawyers of northern extraction are taking, saying “…when you begin to create a different Bar, calling it, for example, Northern Bar or new Bar, then people, very soon, are going to start calling for Southern Nigerian Army, Southern Nigerian Navy, Western Nigerian Air Force, Eastern Nigeria Tax Authority etc; where are we heading to? That is nothing but balkanisation of Nigeria and God forbid.”
Chief Ozekhome may have expressed his point in passing, but the fact remains that the northern lawyers in their not well thought out stance, has created a precedence that will surely preempt the breaking away from many other things and institutions that holds the country together.
While the new President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata will have an uphill task unifying the lawyers, it is important to note that a wrong seed has been sown. A seed that may bring about a restructuring of the country, or in the worse case scenario totally disintegrate the country.
A seed will always germinate except of course if it is pulled out on time and crushed.
Former governor of Anambra State, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has officially defected to the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi announced the decision on Tuesday at an event held at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu.
“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey,” Obi said.
The National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, was among the attendees.
United States Representative Riley Moors has said further military strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria could follow recent operations ordered by President Donald Trump, describing the actions as aimed at improving security and protecting Christian communities facing violence.
Moore made the remarks during a televised interview in which he addressed U.S. military strikes carried out on Christmas Day against militant targets in North-west Nigeria.
The strikes were conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government, according to U.S. and Nigerian officials.
“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria, he’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death,” Moore said.
He said the Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State affiliates had provided hope to Christians in Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by repeated attacks during past festive periods.
According to U.S. authorities, the strikes targeted camps used by Islamic State-linked groups operating in parts of north-west Nigeria.
Nigerian officials confirmed that the operation was carried out with intelligence support from Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between both countries.
The United States Africa Command said the operation was intended to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups responsible for attacks on civilians and security forces.
Nigerian authorities have described the targeted groups as a threat to national security, noting their involvement in killings, kidnappings and raids on rural communities.
Moore said the strikes marked a shift from previous years in which attacks were carried out against civilians during the Christmas period. He said the U.S. administration was focused on preventing further violence by targeting militant groups before they could launch attacks.
U.S. officials have said the military action was carried out with the consent of the Nigerian government and formed part of broader security cooperation between the two countries. Nigeria has received intelligence, training and logistical support from international partners as it seeks to contain militant activity.
Moore had previously called for stronger international attention to attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and has urged continued U.S. engagement in addressing extremist violence. He said further action would depend on developments on the ground and continued coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Nigerian officials have maintained that counter-terrorism operations are directed at armed groups threatening civilians, regardless of religion, and have reiterated their commitment to restoring security across affected regions.
World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua on Monday survived a ghastly road accident in Makun, Ogun State.
Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated.
Joshua reportedly sustained minor injuries, while two persons were said to have died on the spot.
