Against the background of the crisis that recently rocked the Nigeria Bar Association NBA, which almost split it into two factions, the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has cautioned the body not to allow ethnic and religious bigotry tear it apart.
He said the internal wrangling in the NBA was one of the most unfortunate providences to befall the association.
Receiving the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, on a courtesy call in his office, Governor Ganduje noted that while there are bound to be differences, it is better to be united than to be divided, saying that as a conventionally persuasive opinion moulder and group that helps shape public policy, it is never going to fulfill that role if it is divided.
The governor pointed out that while no one expected the NBA to be invulnerable to bickering associated with any group of people coming together, but as a body of lawyers with outstanding records of achievements in shaping the country for good, it should not allow ethnic or religious sentiments to tear it apart.
He said lawyers need to come together to resolve their differences, not by breaking into splinter groups, but by ironing out their views through consensus.
While stressing the need to sensitize as many members of the association and seek to accommodate their views on matters of serious concern, Ganduje further called on them to mend their fences and work toward the good of the association and the country at large.
In his remark, Akpata said he was in Kano in continuation of tour of the country and expressed satisfaction with the level of achievements by the Ganduje administration in terms of infrastructure development for the judiciary, particularly the construction of the Court of Appeal edifice, the ceremonial court building as well as enhanced welfare for the staff.
