A former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and leader of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Prof Ango Abdullahi flayed the government for foot-dragging in the search for a peaceful resolution of the conflict that has claimed over 23,000 lives and impeded the socio-economic growth of the affected areas. He blamed the government’s vacillation on 5th columnists in government who thwarted every genuine advice and efforts in the past to use dialogue to end the impasse. Accusing them of believing erroneously that the insurgents would be subdued by force or other means, he said no price was too high to pay for peace, and that the initial rejection of proposals for dialogue by well meaning Nigerians and groups has raised questions about the sincerity of the government in the whole affair, and the need to approach the new accord with cautious optimism. He argued that this was not the first time an announcement of this nature would be made and be repudiated by the insurgents, adding that the lack of full disclosures of the pact by both sides portended a bad signal.
He began: "I am not excited. We have had it before and it didn’t click. One needs to get the details of what transpired. Such agreements between opposing entities usually come with details. No side has given us any details yet. The federal government that made the announcement did not give us any details. If it is genuine, it is welcome. Peace is good. No nation develops in a peaceless environment. We hope and pray for peace. No price is too high to pay for peace."He continued: "They thought they could win through other means, or force. The government should be blamed for the long crises. They were foot-dragging. As a member of the Northern Elders Forum, we prepared a document for government in May 2012, to bring an end to the war. The president accepted it, and even used part of it. We later got information that he was under severe pressure from 5th columnists in government who prevailed on him to dump it, and go for a declaration of state of emergency."
Abdullahi said that the insurgency ought to have been nipped in the bud 10 years ago, but the lack of an effective and virile security system allowed it to grow and fester. He blamed pervading poverty for the violence, regretting that people failed to realize that it is a potentially dangerous fuel for hostilities."All countries all over the world are ever ready to pre-empt such situations. Some people felt that poverty cannot be the reason why they should take up arms. They now know the truth," he rationalized.
He urged the government to seize the initiative and begin to resolve all issues connected with the grievances of the sect for a long lasting peace.
On his part, civil rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, called for restraint until details of the accord were out, and a declarative commitment from Boko Haram leaders was obtained. He feared that the sect may have agreed to the ceasefire arrangement as a ploy to regroup, re-strategize, and launch more attacks later, having come under heavy bombardment from federal forces recently. He explained: "It takes two to tango. Have we heard from Boko Haram?. What we have heard so far was the announcement from the federal government, and the immediate cessation of hostilities by the government. This is not the first time. The other time they even announced amnesty and it was repudiated by Boko Haram. We need to know the details and terms of the agreement."
"It could well be a tactical ploy for the insurgents to regroup and re-launch attacks, especially when the government forces were beginning to have an upper hand in the war. They will just say there is a breach of the ceasefire agreement and capitalize on that to go back to the trenches. We can’t celebrate yet."
He urged the government to suspend the trial of soldiers who were accused of mutiny and grant reprieve for those who were sentenced to death for not fighting, in the spirit of the ceasefire deal.
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