Nigeria ‘can’t negotiate with Boko Haram from the position of weakness’

Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, says the willingness of the federal government to consider a peace deal with Boko Haram insurgents does not mean it would do so from “a position of weakness”.

Speaking in Abuja on Saturday, Adesina said the federal government will only negotiate with Boko Haram from the position of strength.

“Most wars, however furious or vicious, often end around the negotiation table,” he said.

“But I say again, if the insurgents want to negotiate, no decent government will be averse to such. Didn’t the Taliban and Americans also negotiate in Afghanistan?

“So, if Boko Haram opts for negotiation, the government will not be averse to it. Government will, however, not be negotiating from a position of weakness, but that of strength.”

Adesina said President Muhammadu Buhari was resolute and poised to win the war against insurgency, adding that the government and its allies had put machinery in motion for the final “onslaught on terrorism” within and beyond Nigeria.

“The machinery put in place, and which will be set in motion soon, can only devastate and decapitate insurgency. It is multinational in nature, and relief is on the way for Nigeria and her neighbours.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is resolute. He has battled and won insurgency before; he is poised to win again. It is a promise he made to Nigerians, and he is a promise keeper.”