President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, has urged lawyers with dissenting views, threatening division, to sheath their anger and come back together.
Akpata, who made the plea in a series of tweets posted on his Twitter handle, stated that the body of lawyers would achieve more of the people’s expectations if united.
He described as unfortunate, recent moves to divide the NBA along religious and regional lines for a body known to be Africa’s largest network of lawyers.
“The bar that I now lead must be one that is united on all fronts and that recognises that our diversity is, perhaps, our greatest strength. I plead with all Nigerian lawyers to bear this sense of unity in mind as we commence a new journey together.
“Secondly, I am not unaware of the 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.
“The weight of expectations on us is immense and there is no time to take anything for granted. This enormous task cannot be achieved if we continue to fan the embers of division at a time when we desperately need to unite and speak with one firm voice.
“The bar that I now lead must be one that is united on all fronts and that recognises that our diversity is, perhaps, our greatest strength. I plead with all Nigerian lawyers to bear this sense of unity in mind as we commence a new journey together,” Akpata tweeted.
Following the withdrawal of invitation to Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to the NBA conference which sparked on reactions in some quarters, some aggrieved lawyers formed a splinter “New Nigerian Bar Association.
