By Kefas Bangripga

The decision of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to disinvite the Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as one of its panelist has been greeted with mixed reactions.

Mr El-Rufai had been
scheduled to participate in a
panel discussion at the virtual
NBA conference, slated for
August 26-29. His inclusion,
however, sparked protests
among several lawyers who
pushed for his removal as a
participant.
The NBA categorically stated that, El-Rufai’s disinvitation was decided through votes by the NEC of the Association and thus had nothing to do with Religion or Ethnicity.

With Kaduna Muslim lawyers threatening to boycott NBA and Muslim Right Concern (MURIC) telling Northern Lawyers to also boycott NBA. The saga is now assuming a religious dimension.

The prognostication of the unfolding events spells the possibility of NBA becoming factionalised along ethnic and religious lines. If a professional body like the NBA becomes dismembered by ethnopolitical and religious sentiments, Where does that leave our Justice system?

Its is important we understand that a factionalised NBA is not good for our justice system, it is bad to our democracy and destructive to our existence as a people and a country. It is a maelstrom that may snowballed into a greater consequences which will be significantly felt on our justice system.

It is clear that The division in this country is deeply rooted in our religious affiliations. We have allowed religious sentiments to becloud our sense of judgement and rational thinking.

When lawyers who are considered learned, fall into this trap of religious bigotry, then we are gradually navigating towards a dangerous precedent.

The implication of NBA choosing to toe along this path is that the concept of justice and fairness will now be redefined and tossed within the context of religion and ethnicity.

One can only concludes that, rationality has departed every Nigerian soul and Nationalism has been sacrificed on the alter of Religionism.
God save Nigeria.

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NBA VS EL-RUFIA: A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.