ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Sanusi Lamido and Kaduna state Governor at Kaduna Government House. Date: 23-08-2020 Picture: @GovKaduna twitter handle

Sanusi Lamido and Kaduna state Governor at Kaduna Government House. Date: 23-08-2020 Picture: @GovKaduna twitter handle

Sanusi faults NBA for withdrawing invitation to El-Rufai

byMuhammad Ibrahim
August 23, 2020
3 min read

A former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has faulted the decision of ‎the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to withdraw its invitation to Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El’rufai, to attend its Annual General Conference. He described the decision as sad for freedom of speech in Nigeria.

Mr Sanusi spoke on Sunday during a visit to Kaduna, his first to the North-western part of the country since his dethronement earlier this year.

He cautioned the NBA against allowing the controversy surrounding the issue to take a religious or ethnic dimension.

The NBA had invited Mr El-Rufai to speak at the conference but last week withdrew the invitation after sections of the association kicked against it in protest against the governor’s handling of the protracted violent crisis in the southern part of his state.

READ ALSO: NBA Conference: Nigerian lawyers protest El-Rufai’s inclusion as guest speaker

The former emir who was on an official visit arrived Kaduna around 10:30 a.m. Sunday and was received by Mr El-Rufai at the Government House around 1 p.m.

Speaking inside the governor’s office, Mr Sanusi said he was aware that many NBA members were not happy with the decision to stop the governor from speaking at their conference.

According to him, the action does not portray members of the association as people who want progress for Nigeria.

Mr Sanusi said the governor is a nationalist and not a religious or ethnic bigot.

‎”I am aware that the vast majority of NBA members do not agree with those things. You know if you have an opinion, people will either agree with you or disagree with you. But a man ‎who has an opinion that can be agreed with or disagreed with is always better than a man who has no opinion at all.

RelatedNews

Cross River orders 30 magistrates owed for two years to stop work

NBA sets up ‘public interest litigation committee’

Cross River: Why refusing to pay magistrates is dangerous – Calabar NBA

NBA threatens to sue Cross River govt over magistrates’ salaries

“Nasir always has opinions, he knows what his position is on things. He says that position very clearly, people will like it, some people will not like it and that is what some people call controversial and being controversial is actually having an opinion.

“If you don’t want ‎to be controversial, you just be flexible, just flow with the wind and nobody knows where you stand. Then you will not have any friends or enemies, as the case may be.”

Mr Sanusi said he spoke to the chairman of the NBA technical committee who confirmed that he was the one that invited Mr El-Rufai.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

“He (Mr El-Rufai) didn’t ask to come and speak and the technical committee didn’t support the call to dis-invite him.‎

“You know, If you are going to take action on people based on allegations, the president of the NBA himself has allegations against him that have not been proven. Nobody said anything about him because this is a matter that is before the court of law and people will wait for the court to decide.

“Everybody has a right to fair hearing and most important for me, if you feel that the governor of Kaduna State is not doing right, you should invite him to your conference and ask him to explain what he is doing.

“Tell him what you think he is doing wrong and you will learn something from him and he will learn something from you.

“I have seen the responses from different branches of NBA and I hope this matter will not be turned to ethnicity and religious matter, it should be a matter of principle.”

Mr Sanusi said he hopes the NBA will change its stance on the matter.

ADVERTISEMENT

He described Mr El-Rufai as a nationalist.

“Anybody who knows him, knows he has never ever associated with any ethnic or religious bigotry. All our friends and people never know us as northerners because we are just Nigerians,” he said.

Responding, Mr El-Rufai said the former emir was in the state not only to visit him but also as the vice-chairman of the state’s investment promotion agency.

‎He said Mr Sanusi would spend a week in the state during which he would be briefed on the activities of the agency and interact with others in the state.

“As you know, His Highness is the vice-chairman of Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency chaired by the deputy governor.

“We hope by this visit he will be briefed on the activities of the investment agency and also interact with all the agencies that are working to attract investment in Kaduna.

“Kaduna State is lucky to have him as the vice-chairman of the state investment promotion agency because of his wide global network,” he said.

Following Mr Sanusi’s removal as emir and banishment to Nasarawa State, Mr El-Rufai openly embraced him. This was despite the fact that Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who removed Mr Sanusi is of the same party with Mr El-Rufai and was believed to have secured the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the dethronement.

Mr El-Rufai later went to Nasarawa State after the Kano State government backtracked on the former emir’s banishment. He was there when Mr Sanusi relocated from Nasarawa to Lagos from where he flew to Kaduna on Sunday.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (29)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Bayern battle PSG for Champions League trophy (LIVE UPDATES)

Next Post

Many states yet to set up teams for COVID-19 burials – Report

Muhammad Ibrahim

Muhammad Ibrahim

More News

Jubril Martins-Kuye,

JUST IN: Jubril Martins-Kuye, former minister of commerce, is dead

January 17, 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Yemi Osinbajo looking happy. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official Instagram page of Yemi Osinbajo]

In 2021, Buhari, Osinbajo will spend N3.4 billion on feeding, travels

January 17, 2021
COVID-19 vaccine. [CREDIT: Duetsche Welle]

How COVID-19 vaccines will be administered to Nigerians — Official

January 17, 2021
A COVID-19 patient being attended to in the isolation center [PHOTO: TW: @NCDCgov]

Coronavirus: Nigeria records 1,598 new cases, seven more deaths

January 17, 2021
Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed [PHOTO CREDIT: @ZShamsuna]

How Nigeria’s debt repayment is taking huge toll on yearly budgets

January 17, 2021
Kaduna State Governor ,Nasir El-Rufai [PHOTO CREDIT: @nasirelrufai]

Kaduna to relocate Almajiris to neighbouring countries, respective states

January 16, 2021
Next Post
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, at a press briefing on the outbreak of Coronavirus in Nigeria

Many states yet to set up teams for COVID-19 burials - Report

Shodipe the suspect who escaped from police custody

How I escaped from police detention - Murder suspect

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad




Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert

Heritage Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps Address Nationwide
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.