NBA 2020 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
The Annual General Conference (AGC) 2020 of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) kicks off on August 26, 2020 as the NBA’s first virtual conference, drawing participants internationally, with over 15,000 already registered, and counting.
A session that may well become the showcase session of the conference examines the topic “Am I a Nigerian – A Debate on National Identity, The Indigeneship – Citizenship Conundrum.”
Speakers for the session include:
• His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike – Executive Governor, Rivers State; a Governor who dared to appoint a supposed non-indigene of Rivers state as Chief Judge;
• His Excellency, Governor Nasir El-Rufai – Executive Governor, Kaduna State, who will be speaking on the security issues in his state, among other issues.
• His Excellency, Peter Obi – Former Anambra State Governor; a former Governor widely regarded for his frugality and detribalized stance on national issues.
• Pastor Tunde Bakare – Chairman, African Advisory Council of the Royal Commonwealth Society; a most outspoken cleric with bold views on what the Nigerian nation ought to be;
• Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili – Co-Founder #BringBackOurGirls, activist, social reformer and economic expert with a wealth of local and international experience, who will speak to whether our national policies have bonded us or divided us; and
• Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman – Immediate Past ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Former Minister of Women’s Affairs and Social Development. Also an international peace advocate, mediator and social and political activist of repute.
The session is designed to interrogate the apparent triggers of disunity in our nation and brings to the table speakers from different backgrounds who can contribute to the debate from various perspectives. The session is interactive and affords participants the opportunity to interrogate the Panelists.
SYNOPSIS OF SESSION
After 60 years of nationhood, the Nation is still grappling with various issues ranging from tribal, ethnic, communal and political strife to economic instability and an ailing state apparatus. The citizenship vs indigeneship argument remains unresolved.
The nation finds herself caught up in an increasing clamour for secession by the various ethnic groups and must either successfully re-examine the cord that binds its various and diverse members together and make the conjoined destiny of the people a workable one, or critically examine plausible options that may be open to us as a people.
This leads us to then ask whether those things expected to bind us together, have not been the ones pulling us apart and tearing us in the seams as a nation, as we try to chart a new course for a sustainable Nigeria that generations unborn can be proud to be associated with.
We all can see and indeed have experienced in the areas of businesses, Governments, schools and corporate organizations, the adverse effects of discrimination based on tribe and ethnicity. Therefore, the discourse on promoting the spirit of nationalism and a “united” Nigeria is a dire imperative.
All of these raise the question of the role of law in the reforms that are necessary to promote our collective unity and reduce all forms of marginalization and prejudice against all people based on ethnic or communal differences. We urge all stakeholders to join us at this robust and engaging session.
Kunle Edun
National Publicity Secretary
TCCP MEDIA AND PUBLICITY
