Undeterred
by Boko Haram’s rejection of its amnesty offer, the Federal Government is
reaching out to some elders and Islamic clerics in Borno, Yobe and Kano states
to prevail on Boko Haram to embrace the proposal.
by Boko Haram’s rejection of its amnesty offer, the Federal Government is
reaching out to some elders and Islamic clerics in Borno, Yobe and Kano states
to prevail on Boko Haram to embrace the proposal.
The
government is also considering talks with some Boko Haram leader in detention
to facilitate contact with the sect.
government is also considering talks with some Boko Haram leader in detention
to facilitate contact with the sect.
The
options came even as the Northern Youth Forum (NYF) urged the sect to embrace
the planned amnesty.
options came even as the Northern Youth Forum (NYF) urged the sect to embrace
the planned amnesty.
Also at
the weekend Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda expressed optimism that the sect
would embrace dialogue and accept amnesty.
the weekend Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda expressed optimism that the sect
would embrace dialogue and accept amnesty.
Besides,
Yuguda’s counterparts in Borno (Kashim Shettima), Yobe (Ibrahim Gaidam) and
Kano (Rabiu Kwankwaso) have begun moves to restore peace to the North.
Yuguda’s counterparts in Borno (Kashim Shettima), Yobe (Ibrahim Gaidam) and
Kano (Rabiu Kwankwaso) have begun moves to restore peace to the North.
The
Federal Government’s challenge is how to reach out to the sect’s leader, Imam
Abubakar Shekau.
Federal Government’s challenge is how to reach out to the sect’s leader, Imam
Abubakar Shekau.
The
government, it was learnt, is already seeking the help of some elders and
clerics in Borno, Yobe and Kano.
government, it was learnt, is already seeking the help of some elders and
clerics in Borno, Yobe and Kano.
A
source said: “These leaders and clerics are not members of the sect but they
are respected by Boko Haram. They also know how they get in touch with them.
The mandate given to these leaders and clerics is based on why the amnesty
should be in place.
source said: “These leaders and clerics are not members of the sect but they
are respected by Boko Haram. They also know how they get in touch with them.
The mandate given to these leaders and clerics is based on why the amnesty
should be in place.
“I
won’t give you the names of these intermediary leaders to avoid scuttling the
process. But we believe that once amnesty is in place, the sect’s leaders will
have the freedom to come out for dialogue.”
won’t give you the names of these intermediary leaders to avoid scuttling the
process. But we believe that once amnesty is in place, the sect’s leaders will
have the freedom to come out for dialogue.”
Asked
why the government is going to this length, the source replied: “The rejection
of amnesty offer by Boko Haram is suspected to be politically motivated. We
are, therefore, trying to give it a political solution by enlisting the right
people to assist in persuading Boko Haram.”
why the government is going to this length, the source replied: “The rejection
of amnesty offer by Boko Haram is suspected to be politically motivated. We
are, therefore, trying to give it a political solution by enlisting the right
people to assist in persuading Boko Haram.”
A
source said locating Shekau remained the main issue.
source said locating Shekau remained the main issue.
He
added: “It has been difficult to locate the whereabouts of Shekau since the
operation in Mali made the sect leaders to adopt a make-shift lifestyle.
added: “It has been difficult to locate the whereabouts of Shekau since the
operation in Mali made the sect leaders to adopt a make-shift lifestyle.
“No one
can say whether they are in Nigeria or Mali or any of the neighboring
countries.
can say whether they are in Nigeria or Mali or any of the neighboring
countries.
“This
is why the government is adamant on a proclamation of amnesty in order to serve
as a guarantee that the sect’s leaders are protected from harassment if they
come out for dialogue.”
is why the government is adamant on a proclamation of amnesty in order to serve
as a guarantee that the sect’s leaders are protected from harassment if they
come out for dialogue.”
Shettima
is believed to have reached out to some of the detained leaders and members of
Boko Haram. The governor’s talks with the sect were still ongoing as at press
time last night.
is believed to have reached out to some of the detained leaders and members of
Boko Haram. The governor’s talks with the sect were still ongoing as at press
time last night.
The
governor is said to have visited sect members in detention at Giwa Barracks in
Maiduguri. He also visited some detainees at the Police Crack Team.
governor is said to have visited sect members in detention at Giwa Barracks in
Maiduguri. He also visited some detainees at the Police Crack Team.
“At the
detention camps, he was not too pleased with the condition of some of the
detainees and he made money available to buy blankets and basic provisions for
them. He had one-on-one interaction with many of the sect leaders and members
on the way out,” a source said, adding that the governor persuaded some of them
to assist the government in resolving the logjam.
detention camps, he was not too pleased with the condition of some of the
detainees and he made money available to buy blankets and basic provisions for
them. He had one-on-one interaction with many of the sect leaders and members
on the way out,” a source said, adding that the governor persuaded some of them
to assist the government in resolving the logjam.
“Already,
this idea is being sold to the Federal Government to adopt. The proposed
amnesty committee should meet these high-profile detainees and build confidence
in them to enable them to reach out to Boko Haram leaders to have faith in the
amnesty programme,” said the source.
this idea is being sold to the Federal Government to adopt. The proposed
amnesty committee should meet these high-profile detainees and build confidence
in them to enable them to reach out to Boko Haram leaders to have faith in the
amnesty programme,” said the source.
The NYF
appeal was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its bi-monthly
meeting which ended at the weekend in Gombe.
appeal was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its bi-monthly
meeting which ended at the weekend in Gombe.
The
Forum also praised the government on the proposed amnesty, believing it would
restore lasting peace and stability to the North.
Forum also praised the government on the proposed amnesty, believing it would
restore lasting peace and stability to the North.
It,
therefore, “urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders (Northern
Elders Forum) to involve the youths in the process of the amnesty programme”.
therefore, “urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders (Northern
Elders Forum) to involve the youths in the process of the amnesty programme”.
The
Forum ascribed the security challenge bedeviling the country to poverty,
unemployment, lack of proper educational policies and loss of moral values in
the society.
Forum ascribed the security challenge bedeviling the country to poverty,
unemployment, lack of proper educational policies and loss of moral values in
the society.
Yuguda
is confident that Boko Haram members would accept amnesty and embrace dialogue.
is confident that Boko Haram members would accept amnesty and embrace dialogue.
Yuguda
drew a line between the “real Boko Haram” protesting against poverty and misery
and the “political and criminal Boko Haram”, which is a tool in the hands of
“desperate, “unscrupulous and “unpatriotic” politicians to destabilise the
country.
drew a line between the “real Boko Haram” protesting against poverty and misery
and the “political and criminal Boko Haram”, which is a tool in the hands of
“desperate, “unscrupulous and “unpatriotic” politicians to destabilise the
country.
The
governor acknowledged that poverty, unemployment and lack of social
infrastructure may have instigated anger on some elements in the North. But he
disagreed with those fuelling the violence for political reasons, stressing
that these agents of violence are “criminals, armed robbers and killer Boko
Haram”.
governor acknowledged that poverty, unemployment and lack of social
infrastructure may have instigated anger on some elements in the North. But he
disagreed with those fuelling the violence for political reasons, stressing
that these agents of violence are “criminals, armed robbers and killer Boko
Haram”.
Yuguda
spoke with reporters at the weekend on the state of the nation in Lagos.
spoke with reporters at the weekend on the state of the nation in Lagos.
The
governor denied the allegation that he was interested in the Vice Presidency in
2015. He pledged his loyalty to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and
Vice President Namadi Sambo.
governor denied the allegation that he was interested in the Vice Presidency in
2015. He pledged his loyalty to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and
Vice President Namadi Sambo.
If the
Northern Speakers’ Forum (NSF) has its way, all 19 governors in the North would
be included in the amnesty committee raised by the federal government to to
tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.
Northern Speakers’ Forum (NSF) has its way, all 19 governors in the North would
be included in the amnesty committee raised by the federal government to to
tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.
The
Forum rose from a conference of the 19 Northern Speakers in Minna, the Niger
State capital and commended the government on the steps it took towards
negotiating and possible acceptance of the amnesty.
Forum rose from a conference of the 19 Northern Speakers in Minna, the Niger
State capital and commended the government on the steps it took towards
negotiating and possible acceptance of the amnesty.
In a
communiqué signed by Mr. Stephen Onmeje, the speakers urged the various state
governments, elders and traditional rulers from the region to ensure that peace
return to the region in the overall interest of North’s development.
communiqué signed by Mr. Stephen Onmeje, the speakers urged the various state
governments, elders and traditional rulers from the region to ensure that peace
return to the region in the overall interest of North’s development.
Source: The Nation
