Abducted Girls: Presidency Accepts Obasanjo’s Mediation

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday got the Presidency’s green light to proceed with peace talks with Boko Haram on the release of the abducted 223 girls.

But the go ahead is on the condition that there will be no swapping of the girls with detained terrorists.

Chief Obasanjo was scheduled to meet President Goodluck Jonathan last night either in Lagos or Accra. Government, The Nation gathered, believes that swapping the girls for the terrorists will not only violate the spirit and letters of the Terrorism Prevention Act but  also hurt its allies – US, UK, France and others- which have joined in the search for the girls.

It was also gathered that the offer of amnesty to the insurgents by the President on Thursday has allayed the fears of Boko Haram.

A reliable source,familiar with the talks said: “The government does not see anything wrong in Obasanjo’s talks with Boko Haram. He is going to get clearance to do so.

“The talks with the sect would have to be within the template already put in place by the government. “One of the conditions unacceptable to the presidency is swapping of the girls with Boko Haram members.

“We will not adopt swapping  because the struggle to rescue the girls is now global, it is beyond Nigeria. All of us have agreed that there is no point swapping but we can accommodate many things especially ceasefire and reintegration of the insurgents.”

He siad the  insurgents should ceasefire within the framework of the amnesty window being provided by the Federal Government as unfolded by the President on Thursday.

He also spoke of  an existing dialogue committee through which the Presidency had reached out to Boko Haram contacts. “There are many issues vital to the rescue of the girls and the end of insurgency than swapping,” he said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who spoke with our correspondent from Ghana, said: “The President welcomes any initiative on how to address this insurgency. He has always said that tackling insurgency is a collective effort.

“ I am not aware of any objection to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s initiative; we do not mind anyone assisting the government. As an elder statesman , the government welcomes his intervention.”

President Jonathan and Chief Obasanjo were expected to meet last night either in lagos or Accra,Ghana.

A source privy to the talks said: “At least the President has agreed to meet with Obasanjo on his proposal. The two leaders will use the session to rub minds on the fate of the girls.

“Obasanjo is also expected to present his idea to the President on how things should work out.”

Investigation by our correspondent showed that the Boko Haram contacts, who visited Obasanjo last Saturday in Abeokuta, has given feedback to the sect’s leadership.

Another source said: “The contacts are trying to persuade the sect to send a three-man delegation to Obasanjo for preliminary talks.

“If the initial stage of the talks is successful, then the two parties may swing into action for renunciation, rehabilitation and reconstruction.”

 Courtesy The Nation