A former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Mark Jacob, has urged Nigerians to ignore former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing his recent controversies as a bid for public attention.
Speaking exclusively to Newsheadline on the former governor’s arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Jacob said El-Rufai thrives on attention and should be left to “fight the battle with the APC he helped bring to power.”
El-Rufai wants to be heard and the more attention you give to him, the more he enjoys it,” Jacob said, accusing the former governor of reaping the consequences of political decisions made during his time in power.
Jacob further criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that the party’s leadership since 2015 has worsened Nigeria’s economic and governance challenges.
He argued that issues such as insecurity and civil service reforms in Kaduna State should take precedence over political controversies.
However, political analyst Suleiman Abubakar offered a different perspective, stressing that the matter should be viewed strictly through the lens of the rule of law.
He referenced El-Rufai’s reported admission during a television interview that the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had been tapped for his benefit an act he described as a serious legal and national security concern.
When a public figure admits on national television that a sensitive communication was intercepted, the issue transcends politics and becomes a legal matter,” Abubakar said.
He argued that in any democratic society, such an admission should trigger an investigation to determine whether due process was followed or whether the interception was unlawful.
No individual, no matter how highly placed, should be above scrutiny,” he added, cautioning against framing legitimate legal processes as political persecution.
An APC stalwart, Alhaji Suleiman Haruna, also weighed in, saying Nigerians are watching closely to see whether justice will be applied fairly if wrongdoing is established.
The unfolding developments have intensified political tensions, with observers divided between claims of political rivalry and calls for strict adherence to constitutional due process.
