El-Rufai Reacts to NBA’s Decision to Remove Him as Conference Speaker

Malik Yahya/

Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said that he was not bothered by the decision of the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association to withdraw his name as a speaker at its forthcoming national conference.

The governor, in a statement this evening by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, said the decision by the NBA has only left El-Rufai with one less speaking engagement.

The statement however notes that the development would not stop the governor from lending his voice to discussions that would lead to the “evolution of a national consensus”.

The statement reads in part, “Malam Nasir El-Rufai accepted the invitation of the NBA to participate in a panel discussion on national identity as part of his commitment to the evolution of a national consensus.

“NBA platform or not, these worthy conversations must continue.

“He will continue to make his voice heard on the things our country needs to do for its progress.

“The decision about who speaks at its event is clearly the NBA’s. Malam El-Rufai did not seek the platform and is not agitated that he has one less speaking engagement.”

The NBA announced the decision to withdraw the invitation to the governor via a statement on its official Twitter handle, today.

The terse statement reads, “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to the Kaduna State Governor, H.E. Nasir El-Rufai by the 2020 Annual General Conference Planning committee be withdrawn and decision communicated to the Governor.”

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