Presidency Accuses El-Rufai of Contradiction, Alleges Past Support and Payments to Bandits

The presidency has accused former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of exhibiting double standards regarding negotiations with bandits.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga called El-Rufai a “master of ambivalence.”

Onanuga alleged that the former governor once led efforts to pay bandits as a means to restore peace but is now criticizing such actions for political reasons.

He stated, “Malam Nasir El-Rufai is the master of ambivalence. Once upon a time, he supported and led the way in paying bandits to calm them. Today, in the name of politics, he opposes it.”

NIGERIA NEWS 247 reports that El-Rufai has recently expressed disagreement with the Bola Tinubu administration’s approach to insecurity, particularly its refusal to negotiate with terrorists and bandits.

His remarks have provoked mixed reactions, with the government accusing him of spreading misinformation. The Tinubu administration reaffirmed its consistent stance against paying ransom to bandits.