**The elders, politicians and Islamic scholars said that they do not want the deployment of foreign troops in N/East.
Northern elders and groups from the North comprising Islamic scholars and politicians claimed to be reaching out to Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau to secure the release of the 276 abducted girls.
The groups who have contacts with the terror group are suggesting the two options to secure the girls freedom.
The options are either payment of ransom or the release of some detained members of Islamic terror group, Boko Haram as a form of swap.
Besides the deployment of troops, the government has not made up its mind on the two options favoured by many Northern leaders.
Northern leaders, including Borno elders who met with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja, are opposed to the use of force to rescue the girls or deployment of foreign troops.
The options are either payment of ransom or the release of some detained members of Islamic terror group, Boko Haram as a form of swap.
Besides the deployment of troops, the government has not made up its mind on the two options favoured by many Northern leaders.
Northern leaders, including Borno elders who met with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja, are opposed to the use of force to rescue the girls or deployment of foreign troops.
The elders said that the force alternative may provoke Boko Haram to kill the abducted girls.
A highly-placed source said: “The Presidency and Northern elders or leaders are trying to seek solutions to the abduction of the girls. This was why the President met with Borno elders yesterday.
A highly-placed source said: “The Presidency and Northern elders or leaders are trying to seek solutions to the abduction of the girls. This was why the President met with Borno elders yesterday.
“The President is giving listening ears to all groups in view of the determination of the government to save the girls from being killed; and the local and international pressure to rescue the girls.
“The disposition of Northern elders has so far indicated that they are opposed to the use of force.”
“The disposition of Northern elders has so far indicated that they are opposed to the use of force.”
The source, who pleaded not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter, said the affected groups are Northern elders/leaders; some insurgents in detention; and influential Islamic clerics in the North.
The source added: “The statement by Boko Haram leader Shekau was a coded message that he will not kill these girls. So, he has left a window or possibility for negotiation or bargain.
“This is why these groups are pushing for either monetary bargain with Boko Haram or release of some detained insurgents in exchange for some of the abducted girls, but a major challenge is that ransom to insurgents is a crime in our anti-terrorism law.
“If the options are acceptable to the government, these groups might meet with a team from the insurgents at a neutral ground to negotiate.
The source added: “The statement by Boko Haram leader Shekau was a coded message that he will not kill these girls. So, he has left a window or possibility for negotiation or bargain.
“This is why these groups are pushing for either monetary bargain with Boko Haram or release of some detained insurgents in exchange for some of the abducted girls, but a major challenge is that ransom to insurgents is a crime in our anti-terrorism law.
“If the options are acceptable to the government, these groups might meet with a team from the insurgents at a neutral ground to negotiate.
Among the delegates were former Minister of Education, Prof. Jibril Aminu, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babagana Kingibe, Senator Abdul Ningi, Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil and Hon. Mohammed Kumalia. - Hope For Nigeria.
The other two groups are Islamic clerics in the North and some of the detained insurgents.
The three groups are likely to suggest two options to secure the girls freedom.
The options are either payment of ransom or the release of some detained members of Boko Haram as a form of swap.
Besides the deployment of troops, the government has not made up its mind on the two options favoured by many Northern leaders.
Northern leaders, including Borno elders who met with President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja, are opposed to the use of force to rescue the girls.
It was learnt that the force alternative may provoke Boko Haram to kill the abducted girls.
A highly-placed source said: “The Presidency and Northern elders or leaders are trying to seek solutions to the abduction of the girls. This was why the President met with Borno elders yesterday.
“The President is giving listening ears to all groups in view of the determination of the government to save the girls from being killed; and the local and international pressure to rescue the girls.
“The disposition of Northern elders has so far indicated that they are opposed to the use of force.”
The source explained that the three groups were being courted by the government to liaise with the Boko Haram leadership to set the girls free.
The source, who pleaded not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter, said the affected groups are Northern elders/leaders; some insurgents in detention; and influential Islamic clerics in the North.
The source added: “The statement by Boko Haram leader Shekau was a coded message that he will not kill these girls. So, he has left a window or possibility for negotiation or bargain.
“This is why these three groups are pushing for either monetary bargain with Boko Haram or release of some detained insurgents in exchange for some of the abducted girls, but a major challenge is that ransom to insurgents is a crime in our anti-terrorism law.
“If the options are acceptable to the government, these groups might meet with a team from the insurgents at a neutral ground to negotiate.
“Everyone is saying that the insurgents will agree to hold talks with the three groups on the fate of the abducted girls.”
The source added: “The three groups are reaching out but there is still not a response from the insurgents.”
There were indications that the Boko Haram leader might make the sect’s position known in a new video.
The source, who is central to the peace option, said: “We expect that Shekau may make Boko Haram’s position clear.”
Jonathan met with a delegation of Northeast Forum for Unity and Development, led by former Finance Minister Adamu Ciroma at the Presidential Villa.
There was no official statement on the meeting which lasted for about an hour.
Members of the delegation also did not speak to reporters on the issues discussed.
Among the delegates yesterday were former Minister of Education, Prof. Jibril Aminu, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babagana Kingibe, Senator Abdul Ningi, Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil and Hon. Mohammed Kumalia.
7 comments:
Northern leaders are behind and in support of Boko Haram and should lead the way to free the abducted girls. They are against use of military to free the girls yet they accuse the president of weakness.
Arrant nonsense!!! useless elders, the girls should be release unconditionally and boko haram sponsors should be dealt with decisively! What kind of rubbish is this northern elders depositing, they have learnt of America's intervention and are now panicking. useless fools! God will punish all of you murderers!
By the time they get their detained members in exchane for the girls that's when Nigeria will get the actual number of girls kidnapped. Let's keep watching. Useless people
They are afraid because white man will expose the phone calls and connections with them , but jonathan sef na mumu , since he for call these people come finish these bastards and expose Kaita Lawal and Co
Amah Jones The USA and others are finally coming to Nigeria's aid and suddenly, those who had hoped to blackmail Nigeria with their Islamist Boko Haram militia are calling for dialogue. They are jittery and suing for the same peace they vowed to deny the country by making it ungovernable for the government of President Goodluck Jonathan. From the look of things, it's very clear that the Jihadist North overplayed its hand by planning and executing the criminal abduction of 234 young school girls. The wanton destruction of lives, ethnic cleansing, forced Islamization, land grab, arrogance of power, rapes, kidnappings, etc.-----for what? All for the sake of regaining political power in order to have unfettered access to the Niger Delta's oil wealth and Central Bank of Nigeria's vaults? I think, once again, Jonathan gave the North a very long rope with which to hang itself and I'm afraid, that's precisely what is about to happen. They say pride goes before the fall and, according to the great dramatist Euripides, those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad. Hitler's madness preceded his destruction. Musolini perished the same way. The madness of Pol Pot, Saddam Hussein, Moammar Ghadaffi, Idi Amin, and others like them also preceded their deaths. The Boko Haram and their sponsors are on top of their game right now, no doubt. But he who laughs last, laughs the best. Guess what? Goodluck Jonathan and Nigerians of good conscience are about to have the last laugh. My African-American brethren would say, 'God don't like ugly.' Watch out !!!
The northern elders are playing with the lives of innocent childresn in the name of polictics,but they will burn in hell .I am happy that the president already knows their negative ambition and they have failed because GOD is behind this innocent children .
From various comments, there's been various well presented opinions. The reality is that we only confirm our globally renowned aptitude for procrastination and ineptitude. If there had been an insurgency for up to 5 years, a people-focused nation would not relent in their efforts to eradicate such to fault-which never happened for Nigeria. Politics or religion, our stategic reasoning has been over-ridden by the reckless drive for personal interests including farcical 'supremacy' being displayed by ignorant and incompetent elements amongst the rank and file of various Nigerian groups. He who fails to plan plans to fail. That is our situation in a nutshell. All developed
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