The presidency has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent criticism of the federal government’s handling of insecurity.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga described El-Rufai as a “master of ambivalence,” accusing him of shifting positions to suit political interests.

Onanuga alleged that during his time as governor, El-Rufai spearheaded negotiations and even paid bandits in an attempt to restore peace, yet now criticizes such approaches under the Tinubu administration.

“Malam Nasir El-Rufai is the master of ambivalence. Once upon a time, he supported and led the way in paying bandits to calm them. Today, in the name of politics, he opposes it,” Onanuga wrote.

El-Rufai has in recent weeks openly opposed the government’s policy of refusing to negotiate with terrorists and bandits, sparking debates across the country.

The Tinubu administration, however, has stood firm, insisting that it will never pay ransom to criminals, stressing that doing so would only encourage more violence.