A former Special Adviser on Media to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, has lamented that president Muhammadu Buhari is confusing bandits with conflicting ultimatums.
It would be recalled that Yakasai was fired last month for criticising Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) government, over the President’s inability to secure the country, after a series of kidnapping incidents.
Yakasai was also detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his criticisms of the president.
Last Friday, unknown gunmen stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Kaduna State.
Troops of the Nigerian Army were said to have rescued 180 of the abductees, but 39 students are still in the den of the kidnappers.
On Saturday, Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, said the president “issued a stern warning to would-be terrorists and bandits targeting schools, saying the country will not allow the destruction of the school system”.
In reaction, however, Yakasai wrote, “To be honest, you’re confusing these bandits/terrorists. Last week in Zamfara, you gave them two months’ notice, today na stern warning, which one should they take seriously Mallam Garba? If I’m a father with a kid in boarding school in the affected states, I’ll withdraw them kawai.”
While the Presidency has continued to insist that there will be negotiations with bandits and terrorists, some federal government officials and state governors have insinuated that they are ready to negotiate to ensure peace and security.
