Former Minister of Education and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of enabling terrorism through what she described as an appeasement strategy.
Ezekwesili, who is also the founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance and a former Vice President of the World Bank, said the Federal Government often had opportunities to decisively neutralise terrorists but instead chose to “cuddle” them.
She made the remarks in a post on her X handle while reacting to the recent abduction and subsequent release of pupils and teachers of St Mary’s Private Catholic School in Niger State.
According to her, both federal and state governments, under the current leadership, have continued to reward criminal behaviour by negotiating with terrorists rather than holding them accountable.
“It is accurate to state that our federal and state governments, led at this time by President Bola Tinubu, are, by their appeasement strategy, enabling terrorists by rewarding their criminal behaviour,” she said.
Ezekwesili argued that a capable Nigerian state in the past would never have tolerated such actions, stressing that the Constitution places a duty on government to protect the lives and property of citizens, especially children.
She lamented that since terrorism escalated in 2009, successive administrations had failed to decisively confront armed groups operating across the country.
“Our past and present governments, in escalating degrees, have failed to effectively tackle terrorists who take up arms against Nigerians and the Nigerian state,” she said.
The former minister blamed the situation on years of grand corruption, which she said weakened Nigeria’s security institutions and forced governments into adopting appeasement as a default policy.
Ezekwesili also criticised what she described as triumphalist statements by government officials announcing the release of abducted victims without disclosing details of negotiations, including who was engaged, at what cost and under what conditions.
She warned that the lack of transparency surrounding negotiations with terrorists was fuelling corruption and increasing the country’s vulnerability.
According to her, the failure to arrest, prosecute or eliminate known perpetrators sends a dangerous signal that crimes have no consequences.
“It is insane that government officials claim proximity to deadly criminals during so-called negotiations yet take no steps to arrest or neutralise them,” she said.
Ezekwesili further argued that the continued wave of abductions across the country was the result of weak governance and the absence of a clear strategy to end terrorism.
She concluded by urging Nigerians to confront what she described as leadership failure, warning that insecurity would persist unless those in power are held accountable for protecting lives and restoring safety across the country.
