Tinubu security debate reignites as Daniel Bwala defends the President’s past and present stance on terrorism and school kidnappings
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, on Wednesday in Abuja defended the President’s earlier call for former President Goodluck Jonathan to resign after the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, insisting the demand was legitimate given the scale of the crisis at the time.
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Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Bwala said Tinubu, then an opposition leader, acted within reason when he criticised Jonathan for failing to prevent the mass kidnapping that shocked the world and highlighted the country’s deepening insecurity.
Bwala argued that the insecurity under Jonathan was more severe, claiming terrorists controlled territories and collected taxes. He said this context explained why Tinubu believed a resignation was justified.
The Special Adviser noted that the renewed Tinubu security debate was driven by recent mass abductions of schoolchildren in different states, which have prompted critics to revisit the President’s past comments.
Defending the government’s current approach, Bwala said Tinubu had adopted a zero-tolerance position on negotiating with kidnappers, describing ransom payments as a destructive practice that fuels terrorism by providing criminals with funds for weapons and operations.
He said previous administrations sometimes entered negotiations solely to preserve the lives of victims, adding that such gestures were understandable in life-or-death situations.
However, he maintained that the present administration aimed to avoid actions that could empower violent groups.
According to Bwala, ransom payments inadvertently strengthen criminal networks. He argued that Tinubu’s stance was designed to break this cycle and prevent Nigeria from unknowingly financing terrorism.
Nigeria has witnessed a troubling rise in school kidnappings and violent attacks in recent months, raising fears over student safety and prompting renewed scrutiny of federal counter-terrorism strategies.
The continued assaults have drawn both national and international concern.
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The debate is expected to intensify as the government faces sustained pressure to curb insecurity and reinforce public confidence in its response.
