Some political analysts have described Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s rejection of the mediatory role offered him in a proposed peace talk between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram as a right political decision.
The analysts, who spoke with Sunday Punch, said the offer had put Buhari in a political dilemma but that the former presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change took the better of the two options he had.
The analysts, who spoke with Sunday Punch, said the offer had put Buhari in a political dilemma but that the former presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change took the better of the two options he had.
A senior political science lecturer at the University of Abuja, Prof. Dauda Saleh, said Buhari’s rejection of the offer to serve as mediator was the right thing to do, but noted that it was a tough political choice he made.
“It was really a dilemma. On one hand, if he had accepted the offer, there was the possibility that he would have been linked to the group and that would have been a serious liability and could have ended his political career. This is more so because some people seem to have the impression that he is an Islamic fundamentalist, who had a religious agenda.
“But on the other hand, rejecting the offer, some people would say he turned down an opportunity to help solve a major national problem. So, both options had the potential of hurting his political career one way or another. But, I think he made the right choice.”
Similarly, the Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Lagos, Prof. Solomon Akinboye, said Buhari’s decision could have been acceptance or rejection, with uncertain political implications.
He said, “The man (Buhari) said he does not know them (Boko Haram), so, he cannot mediate for them. It was his decision to make and I think he was right in taking that decision. Whether his decision would affect his political career is another issue.
“However, if he had accepted and was able to help curb the insecurity in the country, it would have been a plus for him. It was really a political dilemma. Now, some people might see him as running away from an important national service.”
In the same vein, the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said Buhari’s rejection of the offer was a welcome development.
Shettima said the proposed peace talk was likely to fail, adding that the nomination of Buhari might be a trap to discredit him.
He said, “Buhari’s rejection of the offer of the mediatory role is a welcome development and that is because I don’t see anything coming out of the so-called dialogue.
“I believe there are still sign that the whole negotiation will not hold water and it is not proper for Buhari, with the reputation he has built over the years, to get involved in such activity.
“Buhari said he did not know these people called Boko Haram and you cannot expect him to stand for people he has not met. They should have chosen clerics or some other prominent people in the North, not Buhari who is leading an opposition party. Whether you like it or not, this move has a political undertone. It is either a booby trap set by the government of the day to mess Buhari up, or those people behind Boko Haram want to mess him up.”
Shettima added that Buhari’s rejection of the offer had also shown that the insurgency had nothing to do with Buhari’s loss at the 2011 presidential election or the North’s ambition to regain power at the centre.
“No real northerner is happy with what is happening, because we are losing more,” he said.
“It was really a dilemma. On one hand, if he had accepted the offer, there was the possibility that he would have been linked to the group and that would have been a serious liability and could have ended his political career. This is more so because some people seem to have the impression that he is an Islamic fundamentalist, who had a religious agenda.
“But on the other hand, rejecting the offer, some people would say he turned down an opportunity to help solve a major national problem. So, both options had the potential of hurting his political career one way or another. But, I think he made the right choice.”
Similarly, the Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Lagos, Prof. Solomon Akinboye, said Buhari’s decision could have been acceptance or rejection, with uncertain political implications.
He said, “The man (Buhari) said he does not know them (Boko Haram), so, he cannot mediate for them. It was his decision to make and I think he was right in taking that decision. Whether his decision would affect his political career is another issue.
“However, if he had accepted and was able to help curb the insecurity in the country, it would have been a plus for him. It was really a political dilemma. Now, some people might see him as running away from an important national service.”
In the same vein, the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said Buhari’s rejection of the offer was a welcome development.
Shettima said the proposed peace talk was likely to fail, adding that the nomination of Buhari might be a trap to discredit him.
He said, “Buhari’s rejection of the offer of the mediatory role is a welcome development and that is because I don’t see anything coming out of the so-called dialogue.
“I believe there are still sign that the whole negotiation will not hold water and it is not proper for Buhari, with the reputation he has built over the years, to get involved in such activity.
“Buhari said he did not know these people called Boko Haram and you cannot expect him to stand for people he has not met. They should have chosen clerics or some other prominent people in the North, not Buhari who is leading an opposition party. Whether you like it or not, this move has a political undertone. It is either a booby trap set by the government of the day to mess Buhari up, or those people behind Boko Haram want to mess him up.”
Shettima added that Buhari’s rejection of the offer had also shown that the insurgency had nothing to do with Buhari’s loss at the 2011 presidential election or the North’s ambition to regain power at the centre.
“No real northerner is happy with what is happening, because we are losing more,” he said.
Government should leave Buhari and face d problem by themselves. Balla
ReplyDeleteGen. Babaginda go send am go prison again if he no confess.
ReplyDeleteIBB threatens to expose Buhari’s corruption
http://www.ipaidabribenaija.com/index.php/news/item/8362-ibb-threatens-to-expose-buhari%E2%80%99s-corruption
U r a fool, wat brot babangida issue here ?
DeleteBalla 2curb d boko haram menace evry hand must b on dect.weda govt oficial or nt.employ or unemploy.i got ur point about Gen Buhari.bt Balla note 1tin boko haram ar muslims folks bt again nt all muslims ar boko haram.any1 dat can profer solutn 2 resolv dis bh insurgent shul nt hesitate cos naija blongs 2 al of us.atlis we already av so much problem at hand b4 now ie curruption etc.so bh issue is doublin it up again.Balla i chaleng u 2 contrbute ur own quota pls an me2 wil do d same.nt by violence means bt amicable resolutn ie awarenes 2 progres naija need 2 move 4ward.
ReplyDeleteThis Ausa Balla and there northern brothers are confused mindless fools. You and your brothers are the one who always tell us that the government should negotiate with bokoharam, now you people are running away from your responsible because of your desparate need to win 2015 election while north is on fire. Olu dont mind what this people are talking,solving this terrorism in the north should be the number one priority by any well meaning nigeria and mere political ambition or the fear of what people will say should not stop a true leader from doing anything possible to save his country from terror. Even goodluck may have political ambition but it didn't stop him from negotieting with his brother in nigerdelta afterall na General buhari introduce sharia for nigeria and na him go end am.
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:12, you are very distorted. So you think negotiating with these terrorist will solve or end all the terror these people are imposing on nigeria!. you must really be a fool for thinking that. Ask yourself this question; why is it that alot of nations around the world dont negotiate with terrorist? .. I will give you the answer- well it is because the terrorist will always have the upper hand, and by that i mean negotiating with them will mean they've been empowered more to cause terroristic acts without the confinement of the laws anytime the govt or a sect in the govt fail to favor or appeal to them. So they can do whatsoever they want to without fear of repercussion by the govt or citizens. In lame man english, negotiating with terrorist is a dead certificate tothat nation. So all that bla.. Bla u r saying, i hope you sit down n rethink. And for your ignorance thought, buhari did not start sharia. It was started by the then zamfara state governor ..yerima(i forgot his name). Am not part of the hausa agenda u r spking of, but i just thought u need some knowlegde before you write on a blog.
ReplyDeleteBuhari has taken a good decision by rejecting the offer, if not a lot of people including myself will conclude that Buhari has been sponsoring these terrorists. Beside, the conditions laid down by the Blood suckers can never be met by the federal government. How on earth do you expect the federal govt to rebuild all the mosque destroyed as a result of the fraccas? Again how do you expect the government to pay compensation to the families of Boko haram who lost their lives? And how do you expect the government to release all the arrested Boko suspects? Now tell me can Buhari solve all these issues?
ReplyDeleteu ave said it all well done buarri when they start blowin they call u to come and monitortem now dat God is exposin them the want to talk fooools bh
ReplyDelete