… Berates association for endorsing ‘one-sided narrative on a serious national issue.’
GOVERNOR Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, on Thursday night, berated the Nigerian Bar Association for “endorsing a one-sided narrative on a profound national issue”, noting that its action had signalled what he described as an unfortunate embrace of injustice, unfairness, absence of fair hearing and total disregard for the rule of law.
He was reacting to the announcement by the Association that it had withdrawn the invitation extended to him to speak at its forthcoming Annual General Meeting.
The Governor, who spoke in a statement, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, however, reminded the NBA that he did not seek its platform.
According to him, for an association, whose bread and butter is about justice, to make a ruling based on the stridency of people who lampoon judicial processes against certain individuals without hearing the other side is odd.
“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to the Kaduna State Governor, H.E. Nasir El-Rufai, by the 2020 Annual General Meeting Conference Planning Committee be withdrawn and decision communicated to the Governor,” the NBA had said via its Twitter handle.
Reacting, El-Rufai’s spokesperson said, “When lawyer friends requested Malam Nasir El-Rufai to accept the invitation of the NBA to participate in a panel discussion on national identity, he accepted as part of his commitment to having a national conversation and 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.
“While the decision about who speaks at its event is clearly the NBA’s, Malam El-Rufai wishes to make clear that he did not seek the platform and is not agitated that he has one less speaking engagement. However, the circumstances of the last few days warrant some comments.”
The governor said the fact that a professional organisation had elected to endorse a one-sided narrative on a profound national issue was something that its members might wish to reflect upon.
He noted, “It bears noting that in its response to pressure, the NBA leadership has signalled an unfortunate embrace of injustice, unfairness, absence of fair hearing and total disregard for the rule of law. The defamatory statements in the petition is another matter entirely, and they will get the appropriate response. Malam Nasir El-Rufai has taken several actions on the security, institutional and technology fronts to address the legacy of violent strife in the state.
“He is the governor that made permanent military and police bases a reality in southern Kaduna, after close to 40 years of waiting. He is the governor that set up a Peace Commission to nudge communities to embrace their responsibility to live in peace and harmony.”
The statement added, “He has done this with equality of concern for all residents, not just those with access to the media and who are able to mobilise sentiment even when they are part of the problem. His investments in building a constituency for peace, anchored on the rule of law, respect for the citizenship rights of everyone and an embrace of the obligations of a common humanity will continue.
“Those who have chosen to pretend that it is only Kaduna State that is experiencing the security challenges in North-West, or that it is only one part of the state that is affected can enjoy the illusion. Malam El-Rufai remains focused on the tough and hard work of stopping the bleeding and the needless breaking of bones.”
