Nigerians have taken to social media to react to the decision of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to withdraw its invitation to Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as a guest speaker at it’s forthcoming annual general meeting.
NBA withdrew its invitation to the governor to speak at its annual conference following criticisms, protests and even threats of boycott from lawyers and others.
El-Rufai in a statement by his special adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye said the governor was not agitated by the withdrawal.
“While the decision about who speaks at its event is entirely the NBA’s, Malam Nasir El-Rufai wishes to make clear that he did not seek the platform and is not agitated that he has one less speaking engagement,” Adekeye noted.
Below are some reactions that have trailed the withdrawal of the invitation.
BREAKING: We welcome decision by @NigBarAssoc to withdraw its invitation to Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai on ground of poor human rights record.
We also call on NBA NOT to invite @NigeriaGov /its reps to its events until President Buhari obeys ALL outstanding court orders
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) August 20, 2020
Decision of NBA to withdraw invitation to Gov el-Rufai to speak at its Convention is a disservice to an org that should champion fair hearing,free speech and tolerance. It deprives lawyers opportunity to interrogate a colleague in the eye of a storm,and has set a bad precedent.
— Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed. (@baba_hakeem) August 20, 2020
Let’s see beyond whether El Rufai speaks at the NBA conference or not. The real lesson is that people found courage to air their views and the leadership of the NBA found the conscience to listen to them. This is the hallmark of leadership and followership!
— Ayuli Jemide (@JemideAyuli) August 21, 2020
NBA may have won but they are perfectly wrong. You can not be the prosecutor, lawyer and the judge at a time. Where is the order?
— AKINTUNDE AKOREDE (@AkintundeAA01) August 20, 2020
Are you people even thinking? If you extend an invitation to someone & your wife & kids say they don’t want the person at home, don’t you just inform the person not to come? What judgment has NBA passed? For saying “don’t come again”? Are you sure you are alright? Nawa ooo
— Otuaa (@IndigoNG20) August 20, 2020
The man. Their nightmare.
Our unflinching support, now and always.
Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai. pic.twitter.com/FcCh17bEGA
— Dr. Abubakar Kusfa ? (@Realoilsheikh) August 21, 2020
It is quite unfortunate that a NBA will engaged El-Rufai in the first place to speak on platform of learned mind the motto of the NBA is promoting the Rule of law such a noble profession cannot identified with someone who doesn’t respect court order kudos to NBA
— Olaoluwa (@popolaw32) August 20, 2020
NBA has set a dangerous precedent and trap for itself with this ill-thought-out decision on Malam el-Rufai. The body has forfeited its noble etiquette of reason for political correctness.
It has been dragged into the murky waters of Nigeria’s clannish politics.— Bashir Dabo (@Bashir_Dabo) August 20, 2020
You still don’t get the memo do you?
NBA responded (rightly) to the call of aggrieved members who (also rightly) feel you have no moral ground whatsoever to speak on National security (or any kind of security) due to the numerous wanton killings going on in Kaduna. But go on…..— I LIKE FOOD WELL WELL! ? (@EgbeLove) August 21, 2020
So Gov Wike is one of the keynote speakers yet it’s El Rufai they protested against? Governor Wike can speak at NBA conference but Governor El Rufai can’t.
The actions of the NBA is not only ill advised, but condemnable. Bloody hypocrites everywhere! ?
— Olayemi ?? (@olayemi_123) August 20, 2020
