El-Rufai's Response To A Viral Video Which He Said Jonathan Should Negotiate With Terrorist In 2014

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufia has responded to a viral video circulating online in which he was criticizing and urging the then President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan to negotiate with terrorist for the release of Chibok Girls that was kidnapped.

The video which was made in 2014 contradicts his stance on negotiating with kidnappers, which he has constantly said he won't pay ransom or negotiate with kidnappers for the release of kidnapped victims.

In the video, when he was asked whether he supports negotaition, he is heard saying, "I am in support of every option, when you have life of a citizen at risk, you should not have any option on the table, you should reflect and listen."

He also said, "The only reason why these girls are still in captivity is because they are not the daughter of any important Nigerian and we know it."

The video has caused outrage from some Nigerians, following the continuous kidnapping and killing of students in the State.

In a swift reaction, through his special adviser on media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, he said the payment of ransom to kidnappers have not stopped criminality but have encouraged the criminals to press ahead for the surrender of public treasury to them.

He continued by saying no matter the replays of the video clip his stance on negotiating with kidnappers has changed.

The statement in parts reads, "The experience of many states in the Northwest of Nigeria since 2015 has included cattle rustling, kidnappings and killings and the devastation of communities by criminals. Several States sought to negotiate their way out of the problems by talking to bandits, paying them money or offering them amnesty. This has not worked and has only encouraged the criminals to press ahead for a surrender of the public treasury to them. That is clearly not in the public interest."

"Mass abduction was like in novelty in 2014. But the facts have changed since then. Negotiations and ransoms have been undertaken, but these have not stopped the criminals. It has only encouraged them. It is prudent to review one's position when the facts change, and the suggestion made by a citizen years ago cannot be taken as a immutable answer to a serious problem which has evolved since 2014, no matter the viral replays of the said video clip."