THE Federal Government, on Friday, reinvited the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, for dialogue in order to restore peace to the nation. The government also confirmed the breakdown of the initial talks with the sect.
The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, speaking when he received a delegation of Borno State House Assembly led by its Speaker, Honourable Abdulkarim Lawan, on a courtesy call, said the government considers dialogue as the best option out of the quagmire.
The government had been engaged in a secret discussion with the leadership of the sect, but the peace effort broke down when the Boko Haram leaders accused government officials of releasing information to the press.
The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Lawan, had told the minister that they were at the Ministry to thank the government for the effort at maintaining peace in the state.
He, however, appealed to the government to extend the curfew declared in some local government areas of the state from 6am to 10pm.
Following the declaration of the State of Emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan as a result of the volatility of the state, the curfew was imposed from 6am to 7pm.
But the lawmakers appealed to the government to extend the time in order to allow Moslems hold their prayers peaceful at 8pm.
The lawmaker, added that the Borno people were happy with the presence of the military, police, Immigration and other security personnel on peace mission in the state.
The minister, while responding to their request insisted that members of the sect, who have been unleashing terror on the nation, were not ghosts and should come out of their hideout to embrace dialogue.
He challenged the members of the Borno State Assembly to ensure that the sect members come out and get back to the negotiation table with the government.
The minister said even countries that had been at war, sit down on a negotiation table for amicable resolution of the issues involved.
He said: “The people who are carrying out these suicide bombings, killing and maiming innocent citizens are not ghosts. They are people living with us. They should go back to the table for dialogue”.
He said it was high time the group stepped out to articulate its grievances and thereby open a window for dialogue.
The minister stressed: “The Boko Haram members should go back to the table of dialogue in the interest of the innocent human beings that are losing their lives. Even against the backdrop of some disagreement on the basis of certain issues that are not acceptable by them, I still believe that those unacceptable areas can be ironed out by talking.”
He added, “If Boko Haram and its leadership have something to say; if they have any grouse against the Nigerian state, the proper thing for them is to come out in flesh and state it, so that a process of dialogue that will eventually lead to the resolution of the crisis and the siege on Nigerians can commence in earnest.”
On the request for extension of curfew, the Minister said the plea would be taken to President Jonathan for consideration.
He said he was glad that the Borno people have openly acknowledged the effort of the government to maintain peace and order in the country, especially these volatile states.
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