Don’t mediate for Boko Haram, CPC tells Buhari

November 7, 2012 by Chukwudi Akasike with agency report 

 

Former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd),
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Congress for Progressive Change has advised former Head of State,  Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), to reject his nomination by the Boko Haram sect as a mediator in its proposed negotiations with the Federal Government.

The National Chairman of the party, Prince Tony Momoh, gave the advice on Tuesday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Momoh said, “There is no need for any other person to attend a meeting between the Federal Government and Boko Haram for whatever grievances they say they have.

“We in the CPC do not see where Buhari comes in. We are concerned by the way the name of Buhari is being dragged into this affair.

“Another thing is that nobody reached out to Buhari to say he has been nominated or is being nominated along with others, to mediate or be witnesses to discussion between Boko Haram and the Federal Government.”

Momoh said Buhari had not told anybody or the party that he was interested in the nomination.

 The national chairman maintained that the CPC would not associate with issues that involved criminality.

He said  it was important for the government to maintain “true democracy” by providing adequate security and welfare for the citizens.

“We believe in one country which must remain together and move together in the direction of peace, justice and fair play,’’ Momoh said.

Meanwhile, the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to insist that any negotiation between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram sect should hold in Nigeria, not Saudi Arabia.

Chancellor of the group, Chief Jackson Omenazu, said such condition would be an insult to Nigeria and Jonathan, insisting that such negotiation should hold in Aso Rock or the National Assembly.

Omenazu, who spoke with The PUNCH on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, queried the rationale behind the country chosen by members of Boko Haram for the negotiation.

He said, “Telling Mr. President to come to Saudi Arabia to negotiate with them (Boko Haram) is an insult to the country. We are talking about the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The late former President Umaru Yar’Adua did not travel to Jerusalem to discuss with the Niger Delta agitators. So, why would Boko Haram choose Saudi Arabia as a venue for discussion? Going to Saudi Arabia is completely out of the way and I don’t think any meaningful government will accept such condition.”

 SOURCE: The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper 7 November 2012.