The Presidency on Monday confirmed that it had
commenced dialogue with the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. It however said
that the dialogue was not the type envisaged by Nigerians.
“I can confirm to you that talks are ongoing at
the background. But the talks are not the kinds being envisaged by Nigerians,”
the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, told
our correspondent in Abuja.
Abati added, “I know that some Nigerians are
expecting that a venue should be chosen and a banner will be placed there
indicating that the Federal Government is holding dialogue with the group
there.
“That is not the kind of talks we are talking
about here. The ongoing talk is a back channel one in which those who know
members of the group are talking with them on behalf of the government.”
Boko Haram which has been prosecuting a bombing
campaign against the Nigerian state recently gave conditions for ceasefire and
talks with the government.
The sect, among others asked for compensation for
its killed members; that its demolished mosque be rebuilt; that its members in
custody be released; and that the dialogue venue should be in Saudi Arabia.
It spoke through Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, the
second-in-command to its leader, Abubakar Shekau.
Abdulaziz named a former Head of State,
Muhammadu Buhari; Dr. Shettima Monguno; a former Yobe State Governor, Bukar
Ibrahim; Ambassador Gaji Galtimari; and Aisha Alkali Wakil, and her husband,
Alkali as “trusted” Nigerians it would be ready to negotiate with.
Buhari has since rejected the offer.
Meanwhile, The PUNCH checks have
revealed that the Federal Government is at the crossroads on how to hold a
successful dialogue with the sect which is said to have been factionalised. But
it was learnt that the President had ruled out dialogue with Boko Haram in
Saudi Arabia.
A top security source told our correspondent
that, “While it is true that the government is reaching out to the sect, the
fact that there are various factions of the group is bringing confusion.
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