The Presidential Committee on Dialogue
and Resolution of Security Challenges in the North on Friday released a
video clip of what it described as a meeting with some leaders of the
Boko Haram sect. The committee also said the men were close associates
of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau.
The 30-minute video was played to State
House correspondents inside the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa,
Abuja. The committee holds its meetings in the hall.
In the clip, some men identified by the
committee as members of the highest decision-making body of Boko Haram,
the Shura, were heard speaking in Arabic and Hausa.
In the video clip, a man described as
the spokesman of the sect, Muhammd Lawan Dn Suliaman, was seen with
three other men identified as Abdul-Auza’i, Al-Darnawo and Al-Maliki.
Although Suliaman read his remarks in
Arabic, his words were subtitled in English. He said it was permissible
to reach a peace accord and lay down arms according to Allah’s
injunction in Quran Chapter 8:61.
The men explained that the decision to
take part in the negotiation was based on three things: the tenets of
Islam, the teachings of Prophet Muhammed and the writings of eminent
Islamic scholars and jurists.
However, the authenticity of the video
clip could not be independently confirmed by Saturday PUNCH and a copy
was not released to our correspondent. The committee did not also tell
newsmen where the meeting held and when.
But a statement issued by government and
said to be the full transcription of the remarks made by Suliaman
revealed that the meeting might have taking place in a prison where the
men were held.
The statement reads, “We are indeed
surprised with the visit paid to us by a dialogue committee set up by
the Federal Government of Nigeria.
More surprised, the committee met us in
prison custody and explained to us reason for their visit and also asked
four fundamental questions.
“Firstly, is it possible to dialogue and
reach a peaceful resolution of the conflict between our brothers and
the Federal Government who are engaged in fighting? Secondly, which way
is the dialogue going to follow? Thirdly, which assistance those of us
in detention would give in realisation of that? Fourthly, what
assistance do the detainees need to facilitate the dialogue?”
However, the Chairman of the Committee,
Kabiru Turaki, told journalists that his committee decided to make the
two-week-old video clip public in order to prove to Nigerians that
indeed the government team had established contact with the sect. He
added that the committee had succeeded in gaining the confidence of the
sect’s leaders.
The Minister of Special Duties said
government hoped that the members of the sect, whom he described as
“field officers”, would see the need to embrace dialogue after “watching
and listening to their leaders.”
He said, “It is incumbent on all true
Muslims to accept dialogue. They (Shura members) have called on their
members and Muslims to give peace a chance.
“We need to build confidence to open a
line of communication. When we build on dialogue, we will get to the
next stage of total ceasefire. We have not got to that level yet. No
conditions have been finalised.”
Turaki, however, disclosed that the
committee was still making efforts towards meeting another set of senior
leaders of the group, and a splinter group, Ansaru.
He also said he could not get the
military operatives in Borno State to confirm the death of the Boko
Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.
Turaki admitted that there was no clear
connection between the Shura committee and the second-in-command with
whom government reportedly secured an earlier peace deal, or with Shekau
who is yet to be personally reached.
He further explained that his committee
had no mandate to pay compensation to the victims of Boko Haram, but
would advise government on how to bring “succour” to them.
Responding on Friday, the pan-northern
socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, lauded the
amnesty committee’s efforts. But the Christian Association of Nigeria
in a swift reaction on Friday, expressed doubts over the video clips.
The National Publicity Secretary, ACF,
Mr. Anthony Sani, commended what he described as the “carrot-and-stick
approach” of the Federal Government.
Tweet Follow @punshcomempower
50% off Hosting for your Website at GoDaddy.com!
It's a BIG Deal! $5.99* .COM from GoDaddy.com!
It's a BIG Deal! $5.99* .COM from GoDaddy.com!
Host a site without stress on namecheap eApps|YOUR APP HOSTING PROVIDER
Submit your Website
Free webmaster resources including SEO Tools, Computer Glossary, Templates Sign up to BIGTIMEBUX today!
0 comments:
Post a Comment