A group of lawyers has asked the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to withdraw the invitation of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, as speakers for its annual conference.

This comes a few days after the NBA withdrew its invitation to Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, as a speaker at the conference following an outcry by some lawyers who said the governor stands against what the profession represents.

The lawyers, under the umbrella of the Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association (RAMINBA), said both Obasanjo and Wike have acted against the rule of law.

In a statement on Saturday, Adesina Ogunlana, RAMINBA chairman, and Ayo Ademiluyi, the secretary, accused Obasanjo of masterminding the Odi massacre of 1999 and attempted to tamper with the constitution for a third-term agenda.

“We are however baffled that the list of speakers at the conference still retains the names of Balogun Olusegun Obasanjo, retired general and former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as that of Mr Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State,” the group said.

“We are persuaded that these men by their antecedents vis-a-vis the respect for and promotion for the rule of law and due process are not fit for an invitation as speakers in a function such as the conference of Nigerian Bar Association, which mantra remains promoting the rule of law.

“Balogun Obasanjo is known in Nigeria’s most recent history to have launched some of the most brutal assaults on the concept of rule of law. Kindly recall that it was Obasanjo, sworn to uphold the constitution of the land, who refused to obey the supreme court order for the release of the N21 billion Lagos state local government funds illegally and oppressively withheld by his administration.

“Despite the popular outcry that the supreme court is obeyed, President Obasanjo arrogantly declined obedience. He remained adamant all through his administration and it was President Yaradua who later complied with the judgement.”

The lawyers also accused Wike of destroying properties during the COVID-19 lockdown in his state despite a court order against his action.

“He is the same governor who ordered the demolition without a court order of two hotels in Rivers state recently. The Rivers states task force under the control of Governor Wike is an agency notorious for violation of human rights of citizens in carrying out their tasks,” the lawyers stated.

SLAP44:
Obasanjo and Wike were not accused of being front like Boko haram commanders.

Golan007:
Very good.

Is it not Wike that has been sponsoring massive killings in Rivers state?

Demolishing private property despite court orders against such.


Obasanjo ordered the mowing down of Odi.

etokhana:
The lawyers, under the umbrella of the Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association (RAMINBA), said both Obasanjo and Wike have acted against the rule of law.

In a statement on Saturday, Adesina Ogunlana, RAMINBA chairman, and Ayo Ademiluyi, the secretary, accused Obasanjo of masterminding the Odi massacre of 1999 and attempted to tamper with the constitution for a third-term agenda.

kikero:


But Obj was responsible for the Odi and Zaki Biam issue, while Wike has presided over a state that has its own share of insecruty.

And yes, El rufai too is just worse compared to Wike.

All of them have no buisness attending the NBA confrence to speak there, if what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Supan:

Since they have accepted El rufai as a terrorist governor and not worthy of such an event.

They are after all looking for who to go down with El rufai.

Supan:


I wonder how much El rufai paid them.

I am happy that at least they have accept Ei rufai is a terrorist and not worthy of such an event.

They are after all looking for who to go down with El rufai.

kikero:


The same way Rivfers people voted Wike after all the security issue, and most Nigerians (your state inclusive) voted Obasanjo after the Odi and Zaki Biam issue.

The problem I have with you and the pro-el rufai gang on this site is that the dead people in Southern Kaduna and elsewhere don't really matter to you, nor does the security of Nigeria. All that matters is getting your man into Aso Rock so that you can benefit from chopping.

I am just pointing out the falacy of your argument. If you want to bar El Rufai rightly in my opinion for his bad deed, then you have to bar Obasanjo not only for his own bad deed, but even Wike. (And Rivers state still has a security issue up till now). You cannot be barring Northerners and turing a blind eye to Southern atricites. You will end up like Bauchi and Yobe NBA and the grills guy here on this site...who turn a blind eye to Northern bad deeds.

Agbegbaorogboye:


Your subtle defence of El-Rufai deceives no one but yourself. El-Rufai is a threat to the peace of Kaduna and indeed the north. It's this disingenuous tactics of saying don't touch my looter until you touch yours the has led corruption to forster in Nigeria.
If we begin to allow politicians to play us by apply ing such logic to security and rule of law cum justice, then we the populace have become ultimate fools and Nigeria is surely headed for its doom.

Supan:

Since they have accepted El rufai as a terrorist governor and not worthy of such an event.

They are after all looking for who to go down with El rufai.

kikero:


I am not defending el rufai

I am merely pointing out that if we want to ban him for being bad, as I think we should, then why not obj too, wike too?

The problem I have with this is that we are banning Northerners because of hate and excusing southerners because they are Southerners and thus must be innocent even if they do the same bad thing.

For the record,.I think el rufai has no business speaking at the NBA conference and I support the ban . What I don't like is selectiveness.

Again, I support el rufai ban . I also don't agree with the trend of anti northern and antisouthern bigotry exhibited by most on this site.

Good afternoon

Agbegbaorogboye:


Your subtle defence of El-Rufai deceives no one but yourself. El-Rufai is a threat to the peace of Kaduna and indeed the north. It's this disingenuous tactics of saying don't touch my looter until you touch yours the has led corruption to fester in Nigeria.
If we begin to allow politicians to play us by applying such logic to security and rule of law cum justice, then we the populace have become ultimate fools and Nigeria is surely headed for its doom.

Nyamuriflathead:


You ipob and PDP supporters are truly brainless. You see the chunk of scribbled balderdash written up there? shove it up your a$$.

Wike And Obj Must be disengaged whether you like it or not

Agbegbaorogboye:

No sir. What you're exhibiting is naivety towards the devices of the "devil". Let me break it down simply for you
1. Why didn't El-Rufai's hatchet men ask for the head of OBJ and Wike when the agitation for his removal began but had to wait till he was removed? Simple answer. He thought himself untouchable and felt nothing would come of the agitation as no one would dare to embarrass a "whole" sitting governor like that.
2. The hatchet men have carefully chosen their targets. Wike is a southern Christian of the PDP while OBJ is also one of same religion and a major opposition to the present Fed. This has given the whole removal fiasco a tribal, religious cum political colouration, a tactics well employed by our divisive politicians. Pray ask. Why not ask for the removal of Malami the sitting AGF under whose watch human rights abuses have been perpetrated repeatedly? Simple answer. He doesn't fit the agenda of the bigot-in-chief.
3. El-Rufai's agenda is not necessarily the removal of the persons he named but a ploy to erode the credibility of the NBA and further divide the country along our sharp fault lines wherein he can then deflect attention from his atrocities which the removal was supposed to highlight. It's a simple diversionary tactic. What NBA did had nothing to do with such considerations. Mind you, Malami is a northerner as well as the CJN and they were not banned.

Agbegbaorogboye:

No sir. What you're exhibiting is naivety towards the devices of the "devil". Let me break it down simply for you
1. Why didn't El-Rufai's hatchet men ask for the head of OBJ and Wike when the agitation for his removal began but had to wait till he was removed? Simple answer. He thought himself untouchable and felt nothing would come of the agitation as no one would dare to embarrass a "whole" sitting governor like that.
2. The hatchet men have carefully chosen their targets. Wike is a southern Christian of the PDP while OBJ is also one of same religion and a major opposition to the present Fed. This has given the whole removal fiasco a tribal, religious cum political colouration, a tactics well employed by our divisive politicians. Pray ask. Why not ask for the removal of Malami the sitting AGF under whose watch human rights abuses have been perpetrated repeatedly? Simple answer. He doesn't fit the agenda of the bigot-in-chief.
3. El-Rufai's agenda is not necessarily the removal of the persons he named but a ploy to erode the credibility of the NBA and further divide the country along our sharp fault lines wherein he can then deflect attention from his atrocities which the removal was supposed to highlight. It's a simple diversionary tactic. What NBA did had nothing to do with such considerations. Mind you, Malami is a northerner as well as the CJN and they were not banned.

kikero:


So in other words let's excuse Christians for their crimes.

Thanks


As for me....whatever the religion, if they do the crime, let them do the time.

Ban them whatever their religion if they do bad