Amid NBA Invitation Controversy, El-Rufai Calls For Peace, Harmony

Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai has called for the peaceful coexistence of all as against promoting divisive tendencies and violence.

The governor made the call on Monday via his Facebook page.

“Let us respect each other, abide by the law, do our duty to uphold harmony and firmly reject division and violence,” he stated.

Recall that the governor, who was meant to speak at the Annual General Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), was later dis-invited by the leadership of NBA, following widespread criticisms.

“NEC merely made a judgment that it was not in the best interest of the association to be engulfed in the controversy that trailed the invitation of Mallam el-Rufai for the conference and that it was best if the safety-valve of dis-inviting the governor was applied,” Paul Nsoro, SAN, had stated while maintaining that its decision had no religious and ethnic connotations.

Different blocs of the NBA had threatened boycotting the conference while the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) backed the NBA’s decision to withdraw El-Rufai’s invitation.

On his part, El-rufai stated that he would continue to play a positive role for the betterment of the country.

“While the decision of who speak at its event is clearly 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.

“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 governor’s media aide, Muyiwa Adeleke, had said in a statement on Thursday.