Newly sworn-in President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, has implored on promoters of the splinter group, New Nigeria Bar Association (NNBA), to maintain a united body for all lawyers in the country.
The emergence of the NNBA, largely made up of lawyers from Kaduna and other Northern states, was a fallout of the decision of the NBA National Executive Council to withdraw the invitation extended to Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to speak at the association’s recent Annual General Conference.
However, speaking during his inauguration, Akpata called for unity among lawyers in the country.
The new NBA President described the developments that led to the factionalisation of the association as unfortunate.
Akpata said, “I am 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.
“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.
“I plead with all Nigerian lawyers to bear this philosophy of unity in mind as we commence a new journey together today.”
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