Datti To El-Rufai: “If Not Sheer Arrogance From Money You’ve Spent, How Dare You Say You Tapped NSA’s Phone?”

Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has condemned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over his claim that he intercepted phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, describing it as “sheer arrogance.”

Baba-Ahmed made the remarks during an appearance on MIC ON PODCAST, while responding to questions on poverty in northern Nigeria and politics under the Buhari administration.

According to him, El-Rufai had admitted during a live interview on Arise TV in February that he tapped Ribadu’s phone.

“Once you give money to Buhari’s people, you can have your way. That is why Nasir El-Rufai will come out and tell you that he’s tapping the phone of the security adviser,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He questioned the rationale behind El-Rufai publicly admitting to such an act against a serving top security official.

“I mean, if not sheer arrogance from money you’ve spent, how dare, on earth, even if you’re drunk, would you say something like that?” he asked.

Baba-Ahmed also launched a broadside at the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, alleging that financial influence determined access to power.

“Even if you’re insane, they have spent enough money in Buhari’s house, the most corrupt, immoral institution, organ in Nigeria,” he alleged.

He further claimed that President Bola Tinubu exploited weaknesses within the Buhari government.

“So, uncle (Tinubu) saw that weakness, and he exploited it to the fullest,” he added.

El-Rufai served as Governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and was a prominent figure in the Buhari administration, while Baba-Ahmed was Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election where the Labour Party ticket came third behind Bola Tinubu of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.