Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, Executive Director of Specs Development Academy, has described recent remarks by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as one of the gravest political missteps of his career in public service.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Tuesday, Ikechukwu said El-Rufai’s comments were not speculative but categorical, particularly his claim that the communication lines of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) were tapped.
He noted that El-Rufai went further to imply that such capabilities were not exclusive to the government.
Ikechukwu stressed that breaching the privacy of a public officeholder, especially where confidential information is concerned, constitutes a serious violation and an intrusion into national security infrastructure.
He cautioned that the issue should not be taken lightly, adding that Nigeria and neighboring countries grappling with terrorism would view such statements with concern.
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 are, if you like, tapped.
“He declared even more convincingly, in case you’re doubting him, it’s not only the government that has 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 gotten more mileage than they can handle. I don’t see anybody joking with this.”
