Kaduna-based legal practitioner and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Legal Adviser, Barrister Mark Jacob, has called for Nigerians to ignore former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following his recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Speaking exclusively to DAILY POST, Jacob said, “El-Rufai wants to be heard, and the more attention you give him, the more he enjoys it. He should be ignored and allowed to fight the battle with APC he helped bring to power.”
He criticized the former governor and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming their policies since 2015 have harmed Nigeria. “The APC that El-Rufai, Bola Tinubu, Muhammadu Buhari, and others gave birth to is an evil contraption that benefits no one. Everything this country labored for has been destroyed,” Jacob said, noting the insecurity and civil service disruptions in Kaduna as pressing issues that deserve more attention than the controversy surrounding El-Rufai.
Jacob also warned that political power comes with accountability, stressing that “whatever a man sows, so shall he reap,” and advised caution in governance, particularly in a democratic system like Nigeria’s.
In contrast, political analyst Suleiman Abubaksr emphasized the importance of the rule of law, insisting no public figure should be above legal scrutiny. He highlighted El-Rufai’s reported admission on national television of tapping the phone of the National Security Adviser, describing it as a serious legal and national security concern.
“An admission of involvement in illegal surveillance would immediately trigger investigation. Who carried it out? Under whose authority? Was it sanctioned by a lawful court order?” Abubaksr questioned, stressing that calls for El-Rufai’s arrest are about accountability, not persecution.
Supporting the demand for legal consequences, APC stalwart Alhaji Suleiman Haruna said, “If the law fails to take its course on the former governor, it could set a dangerous precedent for others to disregard judicial authority. Justice must be done, or it risks being meaningless.”
The unfolding debate reflects deep divisions over governance, accountability, and the rule of law, with legal experts, analysts, and political figures weighing in on the implications of El-Rufai’s arrest for Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.
Comments