It’s Foolish To Pay Ransom To Kidnappers —Obasanjo

…Says Nigeria leader must look beyond the prism of his ethnic group

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the Federal Government that controls security apparatus must as a matter of national importance develop means to deal with kidnappers and bandits heavily as against paying ransom.

This is as the former President stressed if Nigeria is to get it right, its leader must look at the country with the prism of its diversity, saying; “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”.

Obasanjo specifically cautioned against the payment of ransom to kidnappers, stressing that he does not believe in the payment of ransom to kidnappers and bandits.

The former President stated this on Wednesday at his Penthouse residence within Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when he received in audience members of Tiv professionals Group led by Prof Zacharys Anger Gundu.

Obasanjo noted that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the government of President Muhammadu Buhari paid ransom to kidnappers but merely denied it, saying that payment of ransom encouraged and empowers criminals indulging in the act.

He specifically said that any government that pays ransom is only engaging in follies, adding however that the fight against insecurity challenges in the country requires a “carrot and stick” approach to nip it in the bud.

In the words of Obasanj; “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 the bandits and kidnappers.

“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 said that that those beating the drums of division in Nigeria, do not put the interest of the minority ethnic groups into consideration.

He further said; “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? But is there hope? There is hope,” he assured.