Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, was conspicuously absent at The Platform, an annual conference organised by the Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos, Poju Oyemade, after some Nigerians criticised him being listed as a speaker for the programme.

The programme, which had as its theme: ‘Is Devolution of Powers The Solution To Nigeria’s Problems’, held on Saturday at the Covenant Christian Centre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Governor El-Rufai was expected to make an appearance via virtual means and deliver a speech as one of the keynote speakers.

However, the governor did not give his highly anticipated speech at the event. It is unknown whether the online protest against him, particularly on Twitter on Friday, forced him not to make an appearance.

Neither the Kaduna State government nor the organisers of the event gave a reason for the governor’s absence.

Other speakers at the event included Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah; former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka; and ex-President of Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba.

Last August, the Nigerian Bar Association withdrew its invitation to El-Rufai, following protests from some lawyers. The lawyers had faulted the NBA for inviting el-Rufai, citing his alleged poor human rights record and his inability to stop the killings, particularly in southern Kaduna