Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Wednesday, has
cautioned against the payment of ransom to kidnappers.
He, however, submitted that the government must develop
means to deal with kidnappers and bandits heavily in place of ransom payment.
He noted that the governments of both President Goodluck
Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari paid ransom to kidnappers
but they denied it.
Obasanjo said he does not believe in payment of ransom to
kidnappers and bandits, saying it encouraged criminals indulging in the act.
The former president berated any government that pays
ransom, describing them as follies.
Obasanjo spoke on Wednesday at his Penthouse residence
within Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while
playing host to members of Tiv professionals Group led by Prof Zacharys Anger
Gundu.
Obasanjo insisted that it requires a “carrot and stick”
approach to fight insecurity challenges to a standstill.
He said “Some people are still reaching out, and hoping that
lives can still be saved. But a situation whereby anybody thinks paying ransom
is the way out, that person is folly. He is a folly. This is because when you
pay ransom, you encourage. But if you are not going to pay ransom, you must
have the means to deal heavily with it. You must have the stick to deal with
it.
“Government has always paid ransom. Not only this
government, even during Jonathan (administration). They paid ransom, but they
denied it.”
Obasanjo expressed fears that those beating drums of
division in Nigeria don’t think about the interest of the minority ethnic
groups.
He added, “Where do we want those minor groups to stand?
Wherever they stand, now they are by virtue of Nigeria’s present situation a
little bit protected. But if Nigeria breaks up and they are in a smaller
country, they will be oppressed. They will always be exterminated. Are we
thinking of that?
“I believe that if we will get it right in Nigeria, any
leader must look at Nigeria with the prism of the diversity of Nigeria. For as
long as you look at Nigeria with the prism of your ethnic group, then you aren’t
going anywhere, either your ethnic group or religious group.
“But is there hope? There is hope.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com