Shettima asks FG to talk with Boko Haram
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has asked the federal government to discuss with Boko Haram to secure the release of the Chibok schoolgirls.
He was speaking with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour Thursday night.
Amanpour had asked for his view on the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan not to go into negotiation with the insurgents for the release of the hundreds of girls.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau had demanded a prisoner swap deal with the government to free the teenagers.
“Do we have any other option?” Shettima asked rhetorically.
He said even if he has to talk to the devil to secure the release of the girls, he would do so.
Shettima said Jonathan did not act on time and did not talk to him over the kidnappings until 19 days after.
The governor, who belongs to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), described Boko Haram militants as a “bunch of lunatics”.
He also blamed the insurgency on poverty, unemployment and poverty.
The APC women’s leader, Sharon Ikpeazu, was also on the programme.
Watching and listening to the Borno state governor yesterday left me angered and sad. He was totally unpatriotic and further showed the reason why we are where we are today.
While we will continue to blame the Fed Govt for not taken some drastic action that will nip some of the attrocities of the BH in the bud, we should also check and review the utterances of the so called "stakeholders" in this matter.
Yesterday, Shettima called his country's federal government " blind, deaf and dumb" in front of a foreign journalist so that he can score political points. His actions and inaction has showed that there is more than meet the eye in all of this imbroglio and i dare to say that we haven't seen the last of this because the whole issue is complicated and politics has taken over our sanctity.
The governor hardly speak to Nigerian journalist but easily jets to UK at the click of a button to speak with employees of BBC, CNN and any other foreign journalist.
To the Governor, i will say, if Nigeria burns, all of us have a role to play by our action and inaction. His utterances are important now and in the future. He should drop politics and lets ensure that the future is secured by joining hands to build a better society. The problem we have in the north today is the result of deliberate impoverishment of the region by past and some present leaders. We can halt and reverse this trend by letting peace reign and engaging in activities that build the nation.
To the federal govt led by GEJ, he should be more decisive and take action while also taking responsibility for those action. I expect a full emergency if he must do it and give clear timelines and strategy for the operations. The military high command should be engaged to ensure that the allowances of the soldiers get to them and timely and the family of the soldiers should be cared for while there must be strategy in place to address insurgency and any victim. Politics should removed from everything and he should surround himself with credible men and not sycophants. He need to act and take responsibility and also engage every country bordering Nigeria because I don't trust them
jboy, you have a point. However if you want to know much, visit the letters writing by Us-man Danfodio {Sokoto} of the inherent characteristic of suppose to be leaders of the three states then an 'empire' in focus; then you will see reasons[ i] will support your suggestion, "I expect a full emergency if he must do it and give clear timelines and strategy for the operations". It seem the leaders from that area cannot be trusted said….