The 2023 Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has demanded immediate questioning of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent claim that the Federal Government had been paying allowances to bandits.
His position underscores the seriousness of the allegation and raises fresh concerns about the government’s approach to security and accountability in the fight against terrorism.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, alleged that both the Federal Government and the state government had funded and supplied food to bandits as part of what was described as non-kinetic measures. He referred to the approach as a “kiss-the-bandits” policy.
Baba-Ahmed maintained that such claims could not be dismissed with denials, insisting that Nigerians deserve clarity from both El-Rufai and the authorities.
He said: “If the so-called office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, would take this statement with levity, then Nuhu Ribadu was never a policeman; he is not a qualified lawyer; he should not be in that office.”
The Labour Party chieftain further stressed that the allegation was too sensitive to be taken lightly, adding that El-Rufai should be invited by security agencies to make statements and, if required, face prosecution.
