General News

Nigerians Condemn NBA’s Inclusion of El-Rufai as Guest Speaker at Conference

Criticisms have trailed the decision of the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to feature Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai as a guest speaker in the forthcoming virtual conference of the association.

Some Nigerians took to Twitter to announce that they are canceling their registration and will boycott the conference unless NBA reverses the decision.

See some reactions

And I call on other well meaning lawyers to also boycott the conference, except Elrufai is withdrawn from speaking at the event. The Kaduna State Government does not have a track record of respect for the rule of law and protecting the rights to life and property
— Lugard Tare-Otu (@Lugard_Tareotu) August 17, 2020

The nomination of gov. Elrufai to address lawyers at the NBA conference is a mockery of the NBA & lawyers is general. How can we sanitize the judiciary with such acts? A kingpin in the abuse & disregard of the rule of law to address lawyers? I will not be attending the NBA Conf😏
— BKNY, M.L (@Beekays_Inc) August 18, 2020

https://twitter.com/jskay7/status/1295513157465772032?s=21

https://twitter.com/realthunderclap/status/1295476998958186498?s=21

Dear @NigBarAssoc, I just ran through the list of speakers in the forthcoming virtual conference and Gov. El-Rufai's name is on the list. I'll be withdrawing my attendance and cancelling my registration for the conference.

Thank you.
— Itong Washington (@itongwashington) August 17, 2020

Mr. @OlumideAkpata, this is disheartening. The @NigBarAssoc is legitimizing the actions of a genocide enabler, one under whom dissenters have disappeared and who is an all-round divisive figure. Surely you can do better than invite @elrufai to your events. Where’s the outrage? https://t.co/4jSnsAhvuQ pic.twitter.com/1udf3AROC0
— Ikhide R. Ikheloa (@ikhide) August 17, 2020

https://twitter.com/valerian247/status/1295547743646220289?s=21

Olumide Akpata is the president elect of the Nigerian Bar Association but Paul Usoro is still our President.

So it is Usoro that should be held responsible for inviting a divisive character like El-rufai to speak at the upcoming virtual NBA conference.
— Malachy Odo II (@MalachyOdo1) August 18, 2020

Dear @NigBarAssoc,
I hope you take the outcry against your nomination of Gov Nasir Elrufai as one of the speakers in your upcoming conference serious and remove him from the list.
Don't give me reason to believe that the NBA has lost it essence.@OlumideAkpata pls do something.
— Steven Kefas (@SKefason) August 18, 2020

Why is the dictatorial bespectacled Pygmy called @elrufai addressing the NBA Conference @PaulUsoroandCo (hoping Paul Usoro sees this) @OlumideAkpata ? I am of the opinion that this is disrespectful to the profession and the rule of Law in general.
— Edmonton Harvey Specter (@oddy4real) August 17, 2020