Reactions have trailed the recent disinvitation of Governor of kaduna state Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai to Speak in NBA confrence, Some Legal practitioners speaks with Michael Ofulue Issue. Excepts:

The Technical Committee for Conference Planning of the Nigerian Bar Association had invited Kaduna State Governor, El-Rufai as a keynote speaker for their Annual General Conference which held from 26 29 August, 2020.
Even though El-Rufai was initially listed as one of the guest speakers in a session entitled who is a Nigerian?…..A debate on National Identity, the invitation was withdrawn on the strength of a petition by a group of lawyers, called Open Bar Initiative, who said the Governor represents the very antithesis of what they profess to defend, citing his poor human record and his ability to stop the killings particularly in Southern Kaduna.
The withdrawal by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association to my mind was simply listing to the majority of her members who voted the Exco into power. The call for the dis-invitation of El-Rufai to speak at the Conference may not be unconnected with the way and manner he has handled the issue of security in his State since assumption of office as Governor.
More than anything else, the fact that well-meaning lawyers through their umbrella association the NBA, could demonstrably make a statement on a burning national issue enlivens my hope that a resurgent NBA is in the offing.
The NBA has played the Ostrich far too long. I am also of the view that the NBA who initially invited El-Rufai to be among the keynote speakers at the conference also has a right to withdraw the said invitation.
Only recently sometime in June, 2020 the American Bar Association also cancelled its planned programme with former President FW de klerk after a flood of objections from numbers of the American Bar amongst others. This shows that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has not done the unimaginable as been peddled in some quarters.
To every suit there are two Counsel who make their presentations and the Judge delivers a ruling or Judgment. NEC has spoken please lets abide by their decision.
Finally to my fellow NBA members, we remain the last hope of National restoration in our communities.

On the furore that greeted the dis-invitation of His Excellency Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the incumbent governor of Kanuda State by the NEC of the Nigerian Bar Association, I will want to say it is a misplaced priority. I am in full support of the decision of the NEC not because I am a Southern Christian but because those who initiated the petition that led to the withdrawal of his invitation did so with a sound legal reasoning and not on the basis of ethno-religious sentiment.
Those who opposed his invitation to the event argued that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is a serial abuser of human rights. They also argue that his actions and inactions in respect of the ongoing killings in Southern Kaduna is unbecoming of a responsive and responsible leader. It is also their argument that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai took his scornful degradation of the tenets of human rights and rule of law to international dimension when he threatened during the 2019 general election that foreign observers who meddle in the election would be sent back home in body bags.
These were frightening statements from a supposed statesman. These and other acts of the governor which showed total disregard for rule of law informed the members of the Bar to initiate a petition opposing his choice as one of the speakers at the NBA conference. It is logical to argue that how could somebody who doesn’t value human rights and rule of law be allowed to speak in a forum where such issues are the central themes for discussion? He has shown by his actions and inactions that the tenets of human rights and rule of law are strange to him. As a matter of fact he has shown that he does not possess the requisite knowledge of human rights and rule of law. What does he intend to lecture us when he doesn’t have the qualities.
The rule is: you cannot give what you do not have and the maxim is: nemo dat quod non habet. It is unfortunate that some lawyers who are supposed to have discerning mind set out to whip up public sentiment as they gave the NEC decision ethno-religious colouration. Nobody is against Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on the basis that he is a Northern Muslim. As a matter of fact some of us canvassed for the inclusion of Governor Zulum of Borno State in the list of guest speaker. Our decision was informed by what Zulum has done and what he is still doing for the betterment of humanity. Is Governor Zulum not a Northern Muslim? We should stop playing ethno-religious politics on every issue.

The withdraw of El – Rufai ‘s invitation was biased and sentimental. Usoros leadership style from inception showed that he’s representing some political, sectional or regional and religious interests. That the withdrawal was voted by NBA” NEC is orchestrated by some views with their agenda that do not represent the position of all lawyers in Nigeria. We want them to be bold enough to fight their agenda through other platform other than using NBA.
Who’s more of flouting Rule of Law than Baba Obasanjo and Wike. Just that the duo shared same political and religious interest with Mr Usoro, they entitled to ride on NBA’s platform to promote their common interests.
For record purpose, NBA may have had crisis in the past but Usoro’s style has been divisive and worsen the threat to the unity of the noble association more than ever for personal interest. This to me, has exposed the association to disrepute and ridicule. At any rate, hope is not lost as we ushered in Olumide Akpata in anticipation that he’s going to right some of these wrongs.
It doesn’t worth it, there’s strength in unity other than allow any individual acts to divide us. We all need to show patriotism by fighting Injustice rather than toeyiny the path of dishonored.

The actions and utterances of Gov. El-Rufai are inimical to the rule of law. And such calling on such enemy of law by Lawyers is a mockery of the laws we all live to protect. These explain why we collectively withdrew the said invitation. And this shall be a message to every other tyrants who lack respect for the rule of law.
On whether the NBA as a noble association is right in their decision to disinvite the governor, Chief Ogiren said they are right as pressure group we are bent on protecting the rule of law and the nascent democracy.
It’s my candid opinion that El-Rufai ought to be allowed to enable Lawyers rubbish him with questions.
Now that he is not allowed to come to the lecture, how can we embarass him with questions on his acts and omissions that are contrary to the rule of laws.
The senior Lawyer used the medium to caution politicians and other political office holders to be cautious of their actions and inactions as it borders on respect for the rule of law. He added that it is important for those who are placed on the positions of authority to know that they are not above the law and to be mindful of their utterances and violation to the rule of Law.
Failure to play diplomatically could bring bad result as you can now see. We ought to be guided.

The NBA was absolutely right in disinviting Mr El-Rufai to its visual conference. Inviting him in the first place was a monumental error. He is not fit and not a proper person to be granted audience at the gathering of the finest crop of professionals in Nigeria.
He is evidently a man of small stature out and out. Formation of a new association in Nigeria is long overdue. Each region in Nigeria ought to have its Bar association wholly independent of the other. Nigeria is a fraud which the likes of El-Rufai are living on. In a sane country, fundamentalists like him would never get anywhere near leadership.
According to Leonard Okoye, NBA acted right to have disinvited him saying no wrong has been done to the governor.

Leonard Okoye Nba