Boko Haram’s Olive branch: Buhari’s too much in love with Boko Haram to be unbiased arbiter says Fasehun

Founder of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has warned the federal government to avoid going to Saudia Arabia for the Boko Haram peace talk negotiation, describing the move as an affair fraught with danger.

This was even as he vehemently kicked against the choice of General Muhammud Buhari by the Boko  Haram as the peace negotiator, insisting that the former military president of Nigeria, is in love with the Islamic sect too much  to be able to an unbiased arbiter of peace.

Speaking with journalists at Okota, Lagos State yesterday, Fasehun stressed that peace could only be achieved, “When we have bilateral talks and bilateral concessions. Nigeria should not give up its stand at its expenses to capitulate. Nobody negotiates peace on the terms of the opponents. OPC will not support any gesture that will make Nigeria government to appear like an underdog!”

He argued that rather than go to Saudi Arabia, which is headquarters for the international terrorists’ organizations; Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, with whom Boko Haram has links, the peace talk venue should rather be at Geneva or Nigeria.

Stating that between 3000 and 10,000 people had been killed by Boko Haram since its formation in 2001, in targeted assassinations, arbitrary shootings and calculated bombings, Fasehun added that government should be wary of the pre-conditions spelt out by the sect for dialogue. He urged government not to give in to the conditions.

His words: “We cannot but note that the precondition spelt out by Boko Haram for dialogue have the potential of becoming a stumbling block to the positive outcome of the proposed talks and to peace in the north. The conditions spelt out by the group include; release of apprehended Boko Haram members undergoing detention and facing trials. Compensation for slain Boko Haram members. Rebuilding of demolished Boko Haram mosques in Maiduguri, Kano and Yobe States.

“These are ill-advised conditions. Boko Haram itself must realize that government’s priority will be the reintegration of Boko Haram members into the large society, not allow their continued existence as a separatist group within Nigeria. And this is  valid. Although the group can lay claim to freedom of association, that particular right has a caveat in the constitution. What the constitution guarantees in Section 40, is ‘Right to peaceful assembly and association.” Has Boko Haram associated peacefully?

“Should government succumb to these demands for compensation by Boko Haram, it will lay a dangerous precedent and wrongly signal that the way to get a slice of the National Cake is through taking up arms against the country. It can encourage other groups to start agitating. Boko Haram must drop any demands for compensation and the federal government must resist all attempts to monetize any aspect of Boko Haram’s grievances. Or we Democrats will demand government compensation for Chief MKO Abiola, Alhaja Kudirat, Chief Alfred Rewane and other activists killed by agents of the state in the struggle for June 12.

“Since the conflict started, Christians as well as Moslem have been killed by Boko Haram, just as northerners and southerners. The question is; how much compensation will Boko Haram pay for bombing and shooting people at such places as the Catholic Church, Hamdalla, Niger State and the Deeper Life Church in Okene, Kogi State and for the murder of  Goni Sheriff, the brother of the former Borno State Governor? Who pays compensation for the NYSC members killed in Bauchi, Yobe and Borno States and other parts of the north? Who pays compensation to the families of the media men killed by Boko Haram? Will Boko Haram pay compensation for the Italian and British journalists who were kidnapped this year by the group and immediately executed when an international rescue operation was attempted?”

Stating OPC’s roadmap for dialogue between Boko Haram and federal government, Fasehun suggested that the sect should immediately cease fire. They should expunge Buhari from its list of delegate, except he confirms that he is a member of the sect. Government must discuss only with known leaders of the sect.

He further stressed that the negotiation should be opened to other ethnic interests; Christians, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Egbesu, MEND and other nationality groups, whose indigenes had been wantonly slaughtered by Boko Haram.

“Unbiased professional bodies like the Nigerian Bar Association, National Union of Journalists, can be appointed as mediators,” said Fasehun. “Any dialogue between government and Boko Haram, should be hold within Nigeria. What is good for the goose must be good for the gander, so the federal government should consider amnesty for Henry Okah if it must offer such to Boko Haram terrorists. Government must guarantee the safety of Boko Haram’s representatives, instead of viewing it as an opportunity for security agents to tail, hound and arrest sect leaders!”