A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kennedy Peretei has described past negotiations and ransom payments to armed bandits by state governments as a “misstep” that emboldened criminality, while defending the Tinubu administration’s efforts to combat a security crisis “more complex” than many assume.
Speaking on Inside Scoop, a live program on Adamimogo 105.1FM, Ibadan, the party stalwart, who also served as a former local government chairman Ese-Odo, Ondo State, argued that the pervasive insecurity, particularly banditry and terrorism has deep roots stretching back 16 years and cannot be resolved in President Bola Tinubu’s first three years.
“The problem has taken so much root. A problem that has festered for 16 years will require more than three years to deal with,” he stated.
However, Peretei.was sharply critical of previous approaches, specifically referencing former governors of northwestern states. He pointed to instances where governors, such as the late Senator Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto and a former governor of Zamfara, were photographed with bandits and engaged in cash negotiations.
“If a bandit comes out to say that we have been sponsored by those that were in government before…the only link is, it’s as good as saying that [a former governor] was one of them. Because he actually gave them money in the name of negotiation,” he argued.
The Diplomatic Digest Publisher characterized these negotiations as counterproductive. “There’s no time to negotiate with terrorists and get the better of them. They only use it to buy time for themselves. They use the money you give them to buy more arms.”
When asked if such actions amounted to ignorance, Peretei termed them a “misstep,” adding, “All those who did it have regretted it.”
The discussion followed recent headlines made by controversial Islamic cleric Ahmed Gumi, who named specific former governors as sponsors of banditry. The APC chieftain urged caution, suggesting such revelations should be seen in the context of past official engagements with the criminals.
Shifting to the current federal government, he defended President Tinubu’s strategy, citing the declaration of a state of emergency on insecurity, recruitment drives for the military, and advocacy for state police as concrete steps. He also noted recent commendation from a visiting U.S. National Security Advisor as an external validation of progress.
On the economy, Peretei argued that despite prevailing hardships, there are signs of stabilization, from moderating food prices to a slight dip in fuel costs in some regions. He contended that both economic recovery and security are critically intertwined and are being addressed concurrently.
“Unfortunately, I’m not the spokesman for the government,” he concluded, “but because I’m on air, and a lot of people are listening, I must also give my own perspective…The government has put on their boxing gloves and entered the ring, and are addressing them.”
