Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday insisted on a carrot and stick approach to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said there could be no other means since President Goodluck Jonathan “is overwhelmed “by the Boko Haram (insurgency).
Obasanjo spoke on a BBC programme, Focus on Africa, which aired a special edition on Nigeria’s insecurity last night.Obasanjo said he took it upon himself in 2011 to go on a fact- finding mission when Boko Haram insurgency became uncontrollable to see how to mediate.
He said he met people, especially families who knew them. “I wanted to find out if it was an organisation which has aims and objectives and if they have foreign backing.”
Obasanjo said Boko Haram has leaders, adding that there was somebody who acted as a lawyer to the sect.
“The lawyer, who was acting in proxy told me: ‘Mr President if you want to meet their leaders give me three hours. I will gather their leaders, not in Nigeria but outside Nigeria. Obviously, they have leaders,” Obasanjo said.
When asked if carrot and stick approach would work in dealing with Boko Haram, he said: “Well, if you had tried stick and stick alone and it has not worked, is there anything wrong to try something along with the stick?
“I doubt it very much if you will consider that as wrong because in your introductory statement on this programme, you made the point that no matter how well-meaning the President might have been with his assertion that he will be on top of Boko Haram, it has not been achieved.”
Human rights activist Shehu Sani said Boko Haram is a sect that has a theocratic agenda.
He said the sect is unlike others in the north, adding: “There are sects in the North that say Nigeria should adopt Islam but they are not as fundamental.”
Sani said force had not been able to yield any result.
He cautioned the Federal Government to get the girls out first before using force to subdue the sect.
According to him, Obasanjo has a list of the leaders of the sect. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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BABA, retrace your steps. BH started during your presidency
ReplyDeleteBoko haram started during OBJ's GOV, what did he do? When yerima start sharia in zanfara state, he it's going to die naturally, let the northern ealders call their people to oder and stop distobing president jonathan GoV.
ReplyDeleteAny idiot that has information about BH and fail to unfold it should be treated as a terrorrist, for the love of God, when has the power or position of some stupid idiot over-showed the constitution of the country. This is treason and should be treated as one
ReplyDeleteBaba Iyabo, is like you are a confused man! what is your duty as an elder state man?
ReplyDeleteI wish this man, OBJ was back on the Rock!
ReplyDeleteBABA please unfold the BH list with you sir,
ReplyDeleteYou hypocrite who tongue lass baba IYABO should stop disrespecting our elders, BH had been before he became president. This is the plan of Northerners in other to retain presidency. Period. Let the Northern leaders found solutions to BH .
ReplyDeleteOBJ is not a good elder yoruba people no get sense am sorry they are so selfish am a yoruba but they fools....e.g obj, tinubu etc they are selfish
ReplyDeleteOBJ certainly you have attained that age of senility. Nobody should take your words seriously anymore as you cannever offer anything meaningfull to the society.
ReplyDeleteNigeria, This Land of mine. I no go tire
ReplyDeleteThis land of mine, I NO GO TIRE
ReplyDelete@anon 2, u a very big fool. bastard/imbecile like you claimin yoruba.
ReplyDeleteMust you insult the poster? If you have better ideas , why don't you just post rather than call names? It goes to show that the poster was right after all.
DeleteAs 4 me, obj is far responsible,reasonable nd a beta person than the “FOOL“ called gej. If it were obj‘s regime all dis rubbish wouldn‘t last beyond six months or a year. But with such a “CARELESS nd FEEBLE“ man as the president only GOD know when it will end completely.
ReplyDeleteIt is with cowards like you that nigeria will neva get beta. Insulting obasanjo as anonymous. I'm not gonna insult anyone, I just wanna say irregardless of what he had done during his regime, president jonathan is the current president and should find a solution to his problems as someone worthy to be called president should.
ReplyDeleteIt is well,all we need as a nation is 2 pray 4 her peace and not addg 2 wat is on ground.God forbid Nigeria 2 go into civil war,we need 2 pray hard and ask God 4 his intervention.obviously,dis is not wat only d president can do,it takes d hand of God and not d hand of man 2 subdue a nation.LONG LIVE NIGERIA
ReplyDelete