Some political analysts have described Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari’s rejection of the mediatory role offered him in a proposed
peace talk between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram as a right
political decision.
The analysts, who spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH,
said the offer had put Buhari in a political dilemma but that the former
presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change took the better
of the two options he had.
A senior political science lecturer at the
University of Abuja, Prof. Dauda Saleh, said Buhari’s rejection of the offer to
serve as mediator was the right thing to do, but noted that it was a tough
political choice he made.
“It was really a dilemma. On one hand, if he had
accepted the offer, there was the possibility that he would have been linked to
the group and that would have been a serious liability and could have ended his
political career. This is more so because some people seem to have the impression
that he is an Islamic fundamentalist, who had a religious agenda.
“But on the other hand, rejecting the offer, some
people would say he turned down an opportunity to help solve a major national
problem. So, both options had the potential of hurting his political career one
way or another. But, I think he made the right choice.”
Similarly, the Head of the Department of
Political Science and International Relations, University of Lagos, Prof.
Solomon Akinboye, said Buhari’s decision could have been acceptance or
rejection, with uncertain political implications.
He said, “The man (Buhari) said he does not know
them (Boko Haram), so, he cannot mediate for them. It was his decision to make
and I think he was right in taking that decision. Whether his decision would
affect his political career is another issue.
“However, if he had accepted and was able to help
curb the insecurity in the country, it would have been a plus for him. It was
really a political dilemma. Now, some people might see him as running away from
an important national service.”
In the same vein, the National President of the
Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said Buhari’s rejection of the
offer was a welcome development.
Shettima said the proposed peace talk was likely
to fail, adding that the nomination of Buhari might be a trap to discredit him.
He said, “Buhari’s rejection of the offer of the
mediatory role is a welcome development and that is because I don’t see
anything coming out of the so-called dialogue.
“I believe there are still sign that the whole
negotiation will not hold water and it is not proper for Buhari, with the
reputation he has built over the years, to get involved in such activity.
“Buhari said he did not know these people called
Boko Haram and you cannot expect him to stand for people he has not met. They
should have chosen clerics or some other prominent people in the North, not
Buhari who is leading an opposition party. Whether you like it or not, this
move has a political undertone. It is either a booby trap set by the government
of the day to mess Buhari up, or those people behind Boko Haram want to mess
him up.”
Shettima added that Buhari’s rejection of the
offer had also shown that the insurgency had nothing to do with Buhari’s loss
at the 2011 presidential election or the North’s ambition to regain power at
the centre.
“No real northerner is happy with what is
happening, because we are losing more,” he said.
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