Bwala Defends Tinubu’s Call for Jonathan to Resign After Chibok Girls’ Kidnapping
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has defended his principal’s past call for former President Goodluck Jonathan to resign following the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.
Tinubu, who was then a leader of the opposition, had accused Jonathan of failing to secure the country and insisted that the mass kidnapping was enough reason for him to step down.
The Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, the first major mass school kidnapping in Nigeria, drew global outrage and became a symbol of the country’s deepening insecurity.
With mass abductions of schoolchildren recurring under the current administration, critics have revisited Tinubu’s earlier position.
Appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Bwala said Tinubu’s call was “legitimate” given the circumstances.
“In the days of Jonathan, they didn’t have an idea of the solution. Why did I say that? They were in denial about the Chibok girls’ kidnapping.
“When President Tinubu, then Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, called for Jonathan’s resignation, it was a legitimate call,” he said.
Bwala argued that terrorists under Jonathan had established control over some communities and were collecting taxes.
Defending the current administration’s position on dealing with terrorists, Bwala said Tinubu had adopted a zero-tolerance approach to negotiation with kidnappers.
“There was a time the federal government was negotiating (with terrorists), and I think that el-Rufai (the former Kaduna governor) once talked about a national policy at that time, when they said both states and the federal government can be in a situation where they will have to negotiate,” he said.
“Because if your duty is to preserve the life of people, and citizens of Nigeria are in danger, and negotiation is the only way to save them, and you have to save them, then you have to do all that you need to do to save them at that time.”
According to him, ransom payments indirectly strengthen criminal groups by providing funds for weapons and operations.
“But President Tinubu came with this zero tolerance on negotiation because it didn’t fit into the terrorism financing.
“You see, you are constructively financing terrorism without knowing it.
“So instead of elements that are sponsoring them by giving them the money as ransom to collect the people, they also use the ransom money to buy more weapons.
“So the federal government does not tolerate the idea of negotiation,” he said.
While acknowledging that previous administrations sometimes entered negotiations to save lives, he maintained that Tinubu’s administration is avoiding actions that could bankroll terrorists.
Nigeria has witnessed a rise in school kidnappings and other security breaches across several states in recent months, heightening concerns about the safety of students and the effectiveness of the government’s response.
The wave of abductions has attracted national and international attention, with critics questioning the federal government’s strategies for tackling terrorism and insurgency.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
