Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been invited to speak at The Platform, an annual programme after the Nigerian Bar Association withdrew an invitation extended to him to attend its annual general conference over alleged abuse of human rights.

The platform, hosted by Poju Oyemade of the Covenant Nation, will hold May 1 with the theme ‘Is Devolution of Powers the Solution to Nigeria’s Problem?’

Mr El-Rufai will participate in the interactive session alongside Governor Kayode Fayemi and Governor Nyesom Wike to discuss how “we can move the nation out of this present situation.”

However, the former FCT minister’s participation in the forthcoming event has been faulted due to his alleged abuse of human rights and insecurity ravaging Kaduna.

Since the assumption of office, Mr El-Rufai has been enmeshed in controversies, including proposing a bill restricting religious preaching in Kaduna.

In 2019, he was accused of resenting Christians after choosing a Muslim, Hadiza Balarabe as running mate. But the governor defended himself, saying, “In my life, I have never worked with people based on religious and ethnic consideration. Don’t look at what people said but what I have done in the past.”

A Twitter user, @Kunle Stressacchi, who condemned his invitation to the event, said, “Nasir El-Rufai is not at all fit to be a speaker at the 1st of may event Sir, let’s not be politically correct and docile. A man who doesn’t recognize the human rights of Christians is not fit to address Christians.”

“Is it that you do not read or purposefully ignore the terrible things El Rufai has said or what? You went to bring him to say what exactly?? Someone who has not hidden his disdain for Christians and their religion? Are you not following the patterns of killings IN Kaduna?” another user, Samanthavoupam, wrote.

The Platform and the Covenant Nation could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.

Recently, Kaduna has recorded a spike in kidnapping and killings. The Kaduna State 2020 Annual Security Report indicated that 937 people were killed by bandits and 1,972 kidnapped within the period.

“The southern senatorial district accounts for 286 deaths, which is about one-third of the total, due in large part to sporadic clashes, alongside banditry which triggered attacks and counter-attacks, especially between June and November 2020,” the report had said.

Mr El-Rufai was prevented from speaking at the NBA’s annual programme after some lawyers filed a petition against him.

In the petition to Koyinsola Ajayi, the chairman of the technical committee on the NBA conference planning, the lawyers described Kaduna as “the most dangerous state in 2020.”

It alleged that Mr El-rufai “has on several occasions abused the rights of Nigerians.”

The petition added, “As Governor, Mallam El-Rufai has shown no regard for the rule of law, for human rights or for human beings.

“He has been reckless in his utterances, hubristic in his outlook, and irresponsible with power. Offering him the platform of the NBA Annual General Conference 2020 is a reward for misrule.”

Subsequently, the NBA in a statement said, “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.”