Published March 2, 2021
Sunday Aborisade , Abuja
The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections , Peter Obi , has said he disagreed with those advocating payment of ransom and granting amnesty for bandits .
He said doing so would encourage criminality in the country .
Obi stated this in an interview with journalists on the sideline of the presentation of a book , ‘ Made in Aba, ’ an autobiography of the Senate Minority Leader , Enyinnaya Abaribe, in Abuja on Monday .
He said, “ By paying a ransom , you ’re paying people who aren ’ t productive . People are making money without being productive .
“ To pay people for going into crime is unacceptable. If you ’re going to pay kidnappers and grant them amnesty for committing a crime , you’ re simply asking everyone to take to crime . ”
He attributed the growing insecurity and worsening poverty in the country to the refusal of the federal authorities to allow power devolution to the federating units .
The former Anambra State governor said Abaribe, in his book , reviewed what the people should be in public office.
He said, “ We should always have the courage to speak against injustice , falsehood , and most importantly speaking truth to power .
“ This is very difficult in our dear country where being so could be seen as an offence ; a great offence . I know that myself.
“ I know what I go through when I speak in public or do any sort of interview . You will see people asking you , ‘ Where did you get this figure ? How did you come about this ?”