Okey Ikechukwu: El-Rufai’s Statement on Nuhu Ribadu His Biggest Political Mistake
• Face your charges, don’t distract Nigerians, group tells ex-Kaduna gov
Chuks Okocha and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
Political analyst and THISDAY columnist, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, has described recent statements by a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, as one of the biggest political mistakes of his career as a public officer.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Tuesday, Ikechukwu said El-Rufai’s claims were specific and not speculative, particularly his assertion that the communication lines of the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, were tapped.
According to him, El-Rufai went further to suggest that it was not only the government that had the capacity to carry out such actions.
Ikechukwu stressed that violating the privacy of a public office holder, especially in relation to confidential information, amounted to a breach of privacy and an encroachment on national security infrastructure.
He warned that the matter should be treated with utmost seriousness, noting that Nigeria and neighbouring countries battling terrorism would be concerned about such statements.
“Well, the statements of Nasir El-Rufai are not gestural or if you like, he wasn’t guessing. He made very specific statements declaring that the communication lines of the NSA is, if you like, tapped.
“He declared even more convincing, in case you’re doubting him, it’s not only the government that have the capacity to do that.
“You have no right to violate anybody’s privacy if somebody is holding a public office. And you violating the privacy of confidential information or information access to that office is also a violation of privacy. On top of that, it is an encroachment on the infrastructure of national security.
“I may be mistaken, but this seems to me to be one of El-Rufai’s biggest political mistakes in his career as a public officer.
“It’s a matter of national security. Remember there are four countries under pressure from Boko Haram and terrorists – Nigeria, Benin, Niger and Chad. Those countries will be interested in his statement.
“So this is a frightening statement that has to be treated with every seriousness. It was intended to get political mileage. Well, he has got more mileage than they can handle. I don’t see anybody joking with this,” Ikechukwu said.
Meanwhile, a group, Democracy Watch Initiative (DWI),has urged former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to stop what it described as diversionary tactics and face ongoing investigations by anti-graft and security agencies.
DWI expressed concern over El-Rufai’s admission that he breached the communication lines of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), describing the action as a violation of established national security protocols.
In a statement issued by its Director of Strategic Communication, Dr. Tunji Bamidele, the group said El-Rufai was currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) over serious allegations.
“As he faces serious investigations by multiple anti-graft and security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), El-Rufai’s attempts to divert attention from these grave allegations are not only disingenuous but also pose a significant threat to our national security.
“El-Rufai has openly admitted to breaching the communication lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA), a move that raises serious concerns about his respect for established protocols and the sanctity of our national security apparatus.
“His actions cannot be dismissed as mere political maneuvering; they represent a blatant disregard for the laws and principles that govern our nation. The Democracy Watch Initiative views this breach as a critical threat to our collective safety and a violation of the trust placed in our leaders,” Bamidele said.
