Political analyst, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, has described recent statements by former Kaduna State governor, 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, amounts 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.
Ikechukwu said: “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.”
