President Muhammadu Buhari has praised the Nigerian Bar
Association (NBA) for setting up task forces to help in promoting
peace and reconciliation in Northeast and Southsouth.
He said his administration would not have succeeded without
lawyers’ support.
The President spoke when NBA leadership visited him at the State
House in Abuja.
He expressed happiness with the courtesy call and praised NBA
President Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), who led the delegation, for his
fearless disposition in the defense of the rights of Nigerians and
the enthronement of the rule of law.
Buhari said his administration remains committed to providing
security, recovering looted assets and prosecuting the
ant-corruption war.
“In doing this, we require the input of the Bar and Bench.
Lawyers have been busy since this administration came in and have
played critical roles in the recovery of looted assets.
“Your support in the current initiatives of government in
ensuring judicial integrity is in the best interest of government
and Nigerians.
“We must embrace the rule of law for the country to move
forward. And I thank the NBA for making huge contributions to the
success of this administration,” he said.
The President said several lawyers have been playing key roles
in his administration, such as Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN),
Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr. Boss Mustapha,
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr.
Abubakar Malami (SAN), Chief of Staff to the Vice-President Mr. Ade
Ipaye, who were all present during the visit.
He thanks lawyers and Nigerians for their prayers when he was
sick and for their best wishes when he marked his 75th
birthday.
Buhari said his administration remains focused on security,
combating insurgency, providing good governance, growing the
economy and guaranteeing welfare of citizens.
According to him, the government has made great strides in
tackling insurgency in the Northeast.
He said he he would not rest until issues such as Biafran
agitation, crises in Taraba and conflicts between herdsmen and
farmers in different parts of the country are solved.
Buhari commended the NBA for setting up the taskforces in the
Northeast and the Niger Delta to complement the Federal
Government’s efforts to protect the life and property.
He said if professional associations play their role and
co-operate with the government, the country would benefit
He sought the lawyers’ body’s continued support, saying: “The
NBA by its composition and philosophy remains the largest gathering
of lawyers in Sub-saharan Africa, and going by its motto of
promoting the rule of law, the NBA should speak in all matters of
rights and privileges concerning the citizens.”
Mahmoud restated NBA commitment to safeguarding the rule of
law.
He said: “Our constitution enjoins us to protect the
independence of the Judiciary and also the independence of the
legal profession, both of which are considered critical components
of all democratic societies.”
The NBA President commended Buhari for his successes in the
Northeast, saying insurgency has been contained, but noted that
more still needed to be done.
“We salute your steadfast leadership and congratulate men and
women of Nigerian Armed Forces for these successes. We are of
course aware that a lot remains to be done to completely secure the
region.
“We are also aware that insurgency is a complex regional problem
that requires multifaceted approach. We, therefore, wish to
encourage the government to do more to secure the North East
Region,” he said.
Mahmoud identified other flashpoints of conflict which must be
addressed, such as the situation in the Niger Delta, the lingering
Biafran agitation in the Southeast, the various communal conflicts
in Southern Kaduna, the Plateau, Taraba, and the recurring feud
between the herdsmen and farmers across many states.
“All these remain significant issues and have continued to
undermine the peace and security in the country. We want to urge
your administration to continue to do more to improve peace and
security,” he said.
Mahmoud highlighted NBA’s contribution towards addressing the
issues.
He recalled that in October 2016, he set up two task forces: the
Niger Delta Task Force and the North-East Task Force.
He said they were charged with coordinating the association’s
intervention in the two regions with the ultimate aim of promoting
peace, reconciliation rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
“In the Northeast for instance, the justice sector has all but
been destroyed for most part of Bornu State and parts of Yobe and
Adamawa States.
“We are mobilising to support the rebuilding of justice sector
institutions. We are also working to support the victims of these
conflicts. We have been able to attract international support to
aid our intervention,” he said.
Mahmoud commended the President on his efforts and successes in
promoting good governance, fighting corruption and getting the
economy out of recession.
He said the NBA was willing to contribute towards reviving the
economy.
“We are aware much has been achieved in the two and a half years
of your administration. We do not in any way underrate the enormous
challenges of governance and the problems that your administration
inherited.
“We are also aware that many new initiatives have been
introduced to enhance economic management, address issues of youth
unemployment, extreme poverty and improve the diversification and
competitiveness of the Nigerian economy.
“The NBA has the requisite expertise amongst its members to
contribute to policy work in all the areas of the economy and we
are willing to cooperate and work with government to improve
economic management in all Sectors,” Mahmoud said.
The NBA President presented a Policy Book containing specific
recommendations on governance and economic management to President
Buhari.
The recommendations are based on the outcome of the
association’s last Annual General Conference held in Lagos.
“We are confident that the recommendations if implemented will
significantly improve the economy, enhance prosperity and build
more confidence in the country especially amongst its youth who are
increasingly being frustrated by lack of opportunities,” Mahmoud
said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has praised the Nigerian Bar
Association (NBA) for setting up task forces to help in promoting
peace and reconciliation in Northeast and Southsouth.
He said his administration would not have succeeded without
lawyers’ support.
The President spoke when NBA leadership visited him at the State
House in Abuja.
He expressed happiness with the courtesy call and praised NBA
President Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), who led the delegation, for his
fearless disposition in the defense of the rights of Nigerians and
the enthronement of the rule of law.
Buhari said his administration remains committed to providing
security, recovering looted assets and prosecuting the
ant-corruption war.
“In doing this, we require the input of the Bar and Bench.
Lawyers have been busy since this administration came in and have
played critical roles in the recovery of looted assets.
“Your support in the current initiatives of government in
ensuring judicial integrity is in the best interest of government
and Nigerians.
“We must embrace the rule of law for the country to move
forward. And I thank the NBA for making huge contributions to the
success of this administration,” he said.
The President said several lawyers have been playing key roles
in his administration, such as Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN),
Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr. Boss Mustapha,
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr.
Abubakar Malami (SAN), Chief of Staff to the Vice-President Mr. Ade
Ipaye, who were all present during the visit.
He thanks lawyers and Nigerians for their prayers when he was
sick and for their best wishes when he marked his 75th
birthday.
Buhari said his administration remains focused on security,
combating insurgency, providing good governance, growing the
economy and guaranteeing welfare of citizens.
According to him, the government has made great strides in
tackling insurgency in the Northeast.
He said he he would not rest until issues such as Biafran
agitation, crises in Taraba and conflicts between herdsmen and
farmers in different parts of the country are solved.
Buhari commended the NBA for setting up the taskforces in the
Northeast and the Niger Delta to complement the Federal
Government’s efforts to protect the life and property.
He said if professional associations play their role and
co-operate with the government, the country would benefit
He sought the lawyers’ body’s continued support, saying: “The
NBA by its composition and philosophy remains the largest gathering
of lawyers in Sub-saharan Africa, and going by its motto of
promoting the rule of law, the NBA should speak in all matters of
rights and privileges concerning the citizens.”
Mahmoud restated NBA commitment to safeguarding the rule of
law.
He said: “Our constitution enjoins us to protect the
independence of the Judiciary and also the independence of the
legal profession, both of which are considered critical components
of all democratic societies.”
The NBA President commended Buhari for his successes in the
Northeast, saying insurgency has been contained, but noted that
more still needed to be done.
“We salute your steadfast leadership and congratulate men and
women of Nigerian Armed Forces for these successes. We are of
course aware that a lot remains to be done to completely secure the
region.
“We are also aware that insurgency is a complex regional problem
that requires multifaceted approach. We, therefore, wish to
encourage the government to do more to secure the North East
Region,” he said.
Mahmoud identified other flashpoints of conflict which must be
addressed, such as the situation in the Niger Delta, the lingering
Biafran agitation in the Southeast, the various communal conflicts
in Southern Kaduna, the Plateau, Taraba, and the recurring feud
between the herdsmen and farmers across many states.
“All these remain significant issues and have continued to
undermine the peace and security in the country. We want to urge
your administration to continue to do more to improve peace and
security,” he said.
Mahmoud highlighted NBA’s contribution towards addressing the
issues.
He recalled that in October 2016, he set up two task forces: the
Niger Delta Task Force and the North-East Task Force.
He said they were charged with coordinating the association’s
intervention in the two regions with the ultimate aim of promoting
peace, reconciliation rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
“In the Northeast for instance, the justice sector has all but
been destroyed for most part of Bornu State and parts of Yobe and
Adamawa States.
“We are mobilising to support the rebuilding of justice sector
institutions. We are also working to support the victims of these
conflicts. We have been able to attract international support to
aid our intervention,” he said.
Mahmoud commended the President on his efforts and successes in
promoting good governance, fighting corruption and getting the
economy out of recession.
He said the NBA was willing to contribute towards reviving the
economy.
“We are aware much has been achieved in the two and a half years
of your administration. We do not in any way underrate the enormous
challenges of governance and the problems that your administration
inherited.
“We are also aware that many new initiatives have been
introduced to enhance economic management, address issues of youth
unemployment, extreme poverty and improve the diversification and
competitiveness of the Nigerian economy.
“The NBA has the requisite expertise amongst its members to
contribute to policy work in all the areas of the economy and we
are willing to cooperate and work with government to improve
economic management in all Sectors,” Mahmoud said.
The NBA President presented a Policy Book containing specific
recommendations on governance and economic management to President
Buhari.
The recommendations are based on the outcome of the
association’s last Annual General Conference held in Lagos.
“We are confident that the recommendations if implemented will
significantly improve the economy, enhance prosperity and build
more confidence in the country especially amongst its youth who are
increasingly being frustrated by lack of opportunities,” Mahmoud
said.
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