“To the man with a hammer, everything is a nail.”

And as the saying goes, “A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step,” but “What of if we are going in the wrong direction?”

Hello, don’t be carried away by the above speeches please because I am here to tell you that I don’t think allowing El-Rifa’i to speak at the AGC 2020 will enrich him in anything — but I think that disallowing him to talk makes us potentially poor and lacking in the information that he would have pass.

If we disallowed the Governor to participate because we think he is wanting in some actions or inactions as a Governor in Kaduna State, should we, lawyers, not take the concentrated logical and legal pill to reform him? Should we not? But how could we do that? That is actually by allowing him to talk at the ACG although that opportunity seemed to have been wiped out by our mighty hands.

Meanwhile, if we should reform or criticize the Governor on moral or humanitarian grounds, should we, lawyers, not let him speak because when he speaks, we might find even stronger points concerning what is happening in his government with which to profusely attack or reform him? But then, as just humans, when his speech turns out to be upright, humane, controlled, and flawless, should we not let that erase our misunderstandings of the Governor? On this particular point, permit me to inquire that: are lawyers not naturally meant to be just and broadminded in all aspects of life? To be such just and broadminded, is it not giving someone or everyone their right to fair hearing and finally make judgment on whatever they said? Oh, how I wish: are we getting the points?

To be sincere, on the issue at hand, what we, lawyers, are about to forget is that, we are the all-in-all professionals not only in Nigeria but on the entire globe. We are suppose to deal with and carry everybody with us alone. We are trained to have sound meekness and equally inspired to give listening ears to everything or everyone that will prove or disprove any particular cause or belief. But when we decide to make someone’s mouth closed, and our ears clogged, it suggests that we practically seem to forgot we have an inherent right to cross examine or analyse anything or whatever is said. To be very frank, do we think the learned and wisest men in the Country are now not dancing in the mud of incivility and hindsight for shirking to give the Governor a floor so that we will later cross examine him on his speeches or on what we view as his commissions or omissions as Governor of his State? We are actually not happy with what is happening in Kaduna South but only their Governor ought to be on the best position to account on all occurrences, and when he did, we might then question him because he is still the best man on the best position to answer all questions that relate to the human perdition in the waking Kaduna South. But did we now not indicate we don’t want that? How wise? How civil? And how reasonable, please?

In a layman’s view point, I see everything as if we’re actually afraid to hear whatever the Governor would have to say! And if not, why should we not allow him to talk so that as long as his hands are truly dirty or clean on anything or whatever we think or heard, his speech might make him commit himself even more? See, I am bewildered, are we afraid to hear someone talks? Can we be like that? Should we be? Should we ever be? Are we afraid of the Governor’s eloquence? Are we not trained to hear and counter any eloquence when need be? Is that obviously not counter intuitive? But why? But why?

On the final note, I think it is a dishonour on part of the Nigeria’s all-in-all mighty professionals to invite a man for a talk and then uninvite him. And let say this: at any time we have a need and way, it is ideal to invite everyone, be them saint, devil or both to address us, as lawyers, on anything we feel or think is mattering and/or trending so that when they are through, we will apply our sublime powers and skills of judgment on anything they might have averred.

Did we get the points? I hope we did. But I just wish you peace, okay? And I pray that an everlasting peace and unity should reign not only within our dear NBA but Nigeria and world at large.

Might I say this? In spiritual perspective, the reason we’re birthed is to serve God and to be kind in all times to fellow humans. And philosophically, all humanity is one, and our life is one though apportioned to everyone of us. And please, kindly ponder on this!

Thanks for reading.

From Mr. Sanusi Yahuza.
Author, lawyer, practical philosopher and social critic.
Email: [email protected].
WhatsApp: 0813 609 1742.