How Buhari, Jonathan paid ransom and lied to Nigerians – Obasanjo

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government and that of his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, paid ransom to kidnappers and bandits, but denied it.

Obasanjo, who categorically emphasized that he does not believe in payment of ransom to kidnappers and banditry, charged the government to develop means of dealing with kidnappers and bandits heavily instead of ransom payment.

The country has recorded a series of mass abductions, with students being the victims in recent times.While the kidnappers often demand ransom for the release of the abductees, several stakeholders have differed on whether they (kidnappers) should be negotiated with and paid ransom or not.

Speaking on Wednesday when he played host to members of the Tiv Professionals Group (TPG) in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Obasanjo said governments have been paying ransom but denied it.

He, however, said the issue of kidnapping must be addressed with carrot-and-stick approach, adding that payment of ransom encourages the crime.

He added that if ransom will not be paid, the situation has to be dealt with using other methods.

“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,” he said.

“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. They paid ransom but they denied it.”

Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its President from 1999 to 2007.