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| Buhari |
The leadership of Boko Haram Thursday expressed its
willingness to suspend further terror attacks as a prelude to entering into
dialogue with the Federal Government.
The group, which is demanding that talks between it and
government must be held in Saudi Arabia, said in a telephone interview with
journalists in Maiduguri, that it was ready for peace talks should government
meet its demands.
It also suggested the names of former Head of State,
Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, and Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, among others, to
be on the government delegation that will meet with its representatives for
dialogue.
The Federal Government, in a cautious reaction to the peace
offer, restated its commitment to ensuring that peace reigns in Nigeria.
Self-acclaimed spokesman of the group, Abu Mohammed Ibn
Abdulazeez, who also laid claims to being the second-in-command (Amir) to the
group's leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, said it would embrace peace if former
Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, is arrested and prosecuted.
Abdulazeez also said that apart from the arrest of Sheriff,
government should compensate the group and rebuild its places of worship, which
were destroyed during the 2009 uprising.
In addition, all Boko Haram members in the custody of
security agencies must be released with immediate effect, the group said.
He equally said all their wives, who were displaced
following the crisis as well as their children, must be rehabilitated to allow
their integration into the society.
The spokesman said for Boko Haram leaders to come out of
hiding for dialogue, the Federal Government should allow the following people
as mediators: Monguno, Buhari, former Yobe State Governor, Senator Bukar Abba
Ibrahim, Ambassador Gaji Galtimari, Mrs. Aisha Alkali Wakil and her husband,
Mr. Alkali Wakil.
According to Abdulazeez, the dialogue must not take place in
Nigeria but Saudi Arabia, stressing that the group chose to have the dialogue
outside Nigeria because it does not trust the Federal Government, given alleged
past betrayals.
He said the group had raised a five-member committee,
comprising himself (Abdulazeez), Abu Abbas, Sheikh Ibrahim Yusuf, Sheikh Sani
Kontogora and Mamman Nur, to meet with government if all the preconditions are
met.
He dissociated the group from the spate of killings and wanton
destruction of property being perpetrated recently in Maiduguri, saying that
such attacks were politically motivated.
He accused politicians enmeshed in power struggle in the
Borno Emirate Council, government or otherwise of being behind the violence.
The Federal Government in a swift reaction to the peace
offer by the Islamic sect was non-committal.
Rather, it restated its commitment to ensuring that peace
reigns in Nigeria.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr.
Reuben Abati, in a statement after the Boko Haram offer, said: “It is important
to restate the position of government in this matter. The Federal Government is
committed to peace and security for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“If what the proposed ceasefire is intended to achieve are
the objectives of peace and security, then it is a welcome development. Don’t
forget that President Jonathan had made it clear that if the people behind Boko
Haram are ready to come forward, and table their grievances, then government will
be willing to listen to those grievances.
“There have been attempts before now, by concerned persons
to reach out to the Boko Haram through back channels, in response to
government’s call that all efforts should be made to resolve the problem. I
suspect that this latest development may be related to that.
“Definitely, government is determined to ensure peace,
peace, and peace, and protect the rule of law, and at the same time, see that
justice is done where wrongs have been committed.”
Meanwhile, Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima,
yesterday urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate allegations that
some politicians are behind the Boko Haram operations, and if necessary, arrest
those with proven links to the terrorist group.
The governor told State House correspondents after the
National Economic Council (NEC) meeting that he was focused on how to curb the
menace of Boko Haram.
He said while he would not like to take issues with security
agencies that had accused politicians in the state of being behind the Boko
Haram terror attacks, they should go out to fish out indicted politicians.
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