The Nigerian Bar Association said in a tweet on Thursday 20, August 2020 that it has withdrawn its invitation to Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, following protests from some lawyers.
The tweet read, “The National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association at its ongoing meeting resolves that the invitation to the Kaduna State Governor, H.E. Nasir el-Rufai by the 2020 Annual General Conference Planning committee be withdrawn and the decision communicated to the Governor”.
Some lawyers said in a letter titled, “Request to Withdraw the Offer of Platform at the 2020 Annual General Conference of the NBA to Mallam Nasir el-Rufai”, which was addressed to the Chairman, Technical Committee on Conference Planning, NBA, Prof Koyinsola Ajayi, that the governor must not be allowed to speak at the conference.
The letter listed 10 allegations against Governor el-Rufai and his son Bello, who is a Special Adviser to Kaduna Central lawmaker, Senator Uba Sani and was signed by Silas Onu and Auta Nyada.
The NBA virtual conference, which holds from August 24 to August 26, 2020, is expected to have Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in attendance.
The lawyers referenced many controversial utterances of the governor including a threat during the run-up to the general elections in 2019 that any foreigner that interfered in the poll would leave Nigeria in body bags.
The lawyers also stated that due to his leadership failure in the wake up of the killings in southern Kaduna, he (el-Rufai) should be removed from the list of speakers.
Others expected to speak at the event include former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Governor Wike of Rivers State and a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili.
The theme of the conference is: ‘Am I a Nigerian- A Debate on National Identity, the Indigeneship-Citizenship Conundrum’.
Comments