FG Negotiated With Unknown Boko Haram Faction –Mediator Borno-born Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, who has been a go-between in previous Federal Government-Boko Haram negotiations, has argued that the outlawed Islamist sect is not factionalised. The reporter on self-exile in the United Arab Emirates described the reports of factionalisation of the insurgent group as a “media hype,” adding that the Federal Government negotiated with an “unknown faction.” Arguing that it was true that Boko Haram was full of “cells and cadres,” he dismissed the insinuation that there is a group of Boko Haram members who do not take orders from their leader, Abubakar Shekau. Writing on his Twitter page on Tuesday, Salkida described Shekau as the “imam” of the insurgents, noting that if Boko Haram had been factionalised, other imams would have emerged for each of the splinter groups. He stated that Muhammadu Marwana, who claimed to be an influential member of the Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram sect last year, and Danladi Ahmadu, who reportedly led the insurgents’ team for the latest botched negotiation, were fraudulent. “The media hype now is that Boko Haram is fractured and factionalised and that this new challenge affected the release of hostages and a wider peace settlement. “Boko Haram has cells and cadres that all operate under one imam, but there are no factions. If there were, another ‘imam’ would have emerged anywhere in West Africa. “It is unpardonable for such a Jihadi group not to openly have an imam. Therefore, we would have seen a new or another one if a faction exists. “When you look at history of botched ceasefires, starting from Marwana and now Danladi, none of them denounced Shekau but he (Shekau) dismissed them,” Salkida said. According to him, assuming there are indeed factions seeking peace, the important thing expected of the Federal Government is to talk “only to” those that have hostages and seized territories rather that those without “deliverables.” The President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government, he added, must desist from negotiating with the “unknown faction” but set necessary machinery in motion to reclaim territories under Boko Haram control. Stating that he was not against the ceasefire request of the government, he noted that the military forces must take the anti-terror war to the door-steps of the terrorists considering the realities on the ground. “Why speak to an unknown faction if they don’t have deliverables? Government must first reclaim territories and take responsibility. “To fight is better, giving the new realities. It’s pointless for the FG to negotiate from the position of weakness; hence, the inability by Nigerian Army to reclaim lost territories since September. “When you have lost territories, you can no longer negotiate unless you are ready to let go part of it. Reclaim these areas, then seek a peace settlement. May the Lord help Nigeria,” he added. He also explained that the majority of the foot soldiers and commanders of Boko Haram were mostly of the Kanuri ethnic stock. Explaining the rationale behind this, he stated, “This is because it (insurgency) all started there and the sect is deeply rooted in Kanuri land. Kanuri is not the motivation here, it is their interpretation of Islam that is.” When contacted by our correspondent via an electronic mail to speak on the fate of the abducted Chibok girls in view of the botched ceasefire, he referred him to his Twitter timeline, adding that he had nothing more to say. “I have said what need to be said regarding this issue. Let us allow posterity to vindicate the claims either by government or some of us,” the terse statement sent by Salkida to our correspondent read. Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has kept mum online since the ceasefire agreement collapsed. The DHQ had taken to the social media on October 17 to celebrate the ceasefire which did not last more than 24 hours. A check on the Twitter page of the DHQ and that of the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, on Tuesday evening showed that their social accounts had simply gone inactive since then. However, the development had not deterred online commentators from expressing their views on the controversial ceasefire agreement. A social commentator, Abdullahi Buhari, stated on Twitter that the “speed” with which the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, and the service chiefs welcomed what he described as the “bogus ceasefire” depicted “war weariness and cowardice.” “Boko Haram should be the ones celebrating the ceasefire not the military chiefs. What is happening to our military generals?” Buhari asked.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 10:17:46 +0000
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