By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Kaduna stand still, as Barrister Gloria M. Ballanson led Kaduna House of Justice concluded plans to organise an event on the Role of Journalists in Stabilizing Democracy.
Barr. Ballanson is a renowned female lawyer cum activist and CEO of House of Justice, a multi-door justice house in Kaduna- Nigeria.
The CEO recent petition Senate against ministerial nomination of El-rufai, a petition which was signed as received by the office of the Senate President.
The high profile media event expected to gather creams of personalities of note to do justice to the topic brought pursuant by the emerging legal luminary to chat way forward in setting a new pace of agenda for the journalism’s role and democracy in Nigeria.
The CEO is not only critical against misrule, she’s also a thorough breath, nonsense female lawyer who combined activism with legal practice for sake justice for the people.
Skeptical for organising the event pervades, fearing that, it could explore perspectives that would further redefine and widen the scope of media role in a democratic rule more favourable to all.
Indeed, that which would also further expand the latitude of coverage of democracy for the common good amidst the current water-down moderated and diluted democratic practice in Nigeria.
Barr. Ballason, a Kaduna based lawyer, fondly addressed by many as radical lawyer, owing to her rootless stands against tyrannic regime, has foresee journalism as a profession that has all it takes to stabilize and shape the democracy.
One of the few who waged legal war against the immediate past Governor El-rufai of Kaduna state in court, over inhuman policies is a believer transparent and dynamic media, and not of bread and butter profession.
Philosophically, Barr. Ballason had always given it to Him, saying “We do the work and leave the results for God. Only God can adequately judge El-rufai ‘s evil”, among other things, also as her slogan in life.
On the title “The Role of Journalists in Stabilizing Democracy’, the date has been scheduled for 26th Sept. 2023, at 1.00pm, with venue, at the House of Justice, No. 3A Angola road Barnawa, Kaduna state.
Between Barr. Ballason and Mal. El-rufai, only heaven knows when there’ll be amicable resolution as Barr. Ballason led house of justice was among who wrote a complaint the former Governor titled: “House of justice petitions Senate against El-rufai’s ministerial nomination’.
The petition read in parts: “House of Justice, a multi-door justice house in Kaduna- Nigeria, has protested the nomination of the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad Elrufai, as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stating as basis for the protest, his abysmal human rights violations and mass atrocities record especially during his 8-year tenure as Governor of Kaduna state.
“The Petition which was signed by Gloria Ballason Esq, the Chief Executive Officer and Advocacy Lead of the organization, cited among other reasons for objection, El-rufai’s admission of being an accessory to murder by paying killers, arbitrary demolition of properties of citizens and political opponents, sacking teachers and withholding their salaries, imprisonment and sacking of traditional rulers, journalists and activists as well as the persecution of the Southern Kaduna people.
“The Petition further noted that there was a pending verdict of Nigeria’s parliament that declared El-rufai as not fit and proper to occupy public office and that international reports such as the 2020 and 2023 British All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) reports , dishonourably indicted the former Governor.
“The Petition which had attached to it evidence of the allegations against the embattled former Governor, also noted that El-rufai has no respect for the Constitution, rule of law or the code of conduct for public officers and could only fit into a dictatorship and not a democracy”, it stated.
