The leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association on Thursday bowed to popular opinion and withdrew the invitation extended to the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to speak at the association’s forthcoming annual general conference.
The decision was taken at the NBA national executive committee meeting on Thursday, and made public via the association’s Twitter handle.
The tweet said the decision would be communicated to the governor.
“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to the Kaduna State Governor, H.E. Nasir El-Rufai by the 2020 Annual General Conference Planning committee be withdrawn and decision communicated to the Governor,” the tweet read.
READ ALSO: NBA Conference: Lawyers condemn Invitation To El-Rufai As Speaker, Withdraw Attendance
The invitation to El-Rufai as guest speaker at the 60th NBA annual conference had drawn a lot of criticism from lawyers and non lawyers.
Many lawyers on social media announced their withdrawal from the conference scheduled for August 26-29, as a result of the invitation to El-Rufai while others threatened to withdraw if he was not dropped from the list of speakers.
El-Rufai was among the guest speakers slated to participate in a session titled ‘Who is a Nigerian?… A Debate on National Identity.’
Others also billed to speak at the session are Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State; Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State; Pastor Tunde Bakare, chairman, African Advisory Council of the Royal Commonwealth Society; Oby Ezekwesili, former federal minister; and Salamatu Suleiman, the immediate past ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security.
The 60th NBA annual general conference, its first-ever virtual event, is themed ‘Step Forward.
