More members of the newly constituted Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North are set to reject their appointments over alleged irregularities in the formulation of the panel, SUNDAY PUNCH authoritatively reports.
The committee is saddled with the responsibility of engaging members of Boko Haram in dialogue and designing a framework for resolving the violence precipitated by them.
The President, Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Dr. Datti Ahmed, and the Executive Director, Civil Rights Congress, Mr. Shehu Sani, had rejected their membership of the committee barely 24 hours after their names were listed among the appointees.
While Sani’s rejection was on the grounds that he was neither consulted nor informed by the Presidency, Ahmed said he regretted his previous personal attempts to mediate between the government and Boko Haram.
The National Coordinator, Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, who described Ahmed as a “heavyweight” in the region, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that the Sharia cleric was one of the first set of northerners to establish contact with Boko Haram, through a journalist, in order to facilitate negotiations between the sect and the government.
“Some northern leaders were trying to facilitate a meeting between Boko Haram members and the Federal Government. But the Federal Government disclosed some of the demands of Boko Haram. And as a result of that, the sect withdrew in anger from the negotiation.
“When the Federal Government started playing games and politics, Ahmed withdrew. No leader in the northern region would want to be in the kangaroo committee.
“If you want people to negotiate on behalf of government, you have to consult them and secure an agreement with them. But that was not done.”
Mohammed stated some of the panel members had informed him about their plan to reject their appointments.
“In fact, over 90 per cent of the people woke to see their names being mentioned as those who will work out modalities and negotiate. And I know about three of them who have told me they will decline the offer. Already, some people have started declining; they have said they would not serve.
“This is to reinforce the fact that the majority of those whose names were put were not consulted,” Junaid added.
Similarly, the National President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettimah, said more members would quit the committee because they were not consulted. He accused the Federal Government of making the programme political by inviting more politicians as mediators.
He said, “You don’t just bring in politicians and make the situation more political at the expense of people’s lives, because we have lost over 10,000 people. It is serious business and the government must be serious about the issue. It’s not about politicians; it’s about people who will speak for members of the sect to listen.”
In the same vein, the Borno Elders’ Forum said the FG should dissolve the committee and consult with those directly affected by the insurgency to nominate their representatives.
Its secretary, Dr. Bulama Gubio, said the constitution of members of the committee was faulty and was not done in “good faith,” as relevant stakeholders were not consulted.
Gubio said, “It is either they (FG) don’t understand what Boko Haram is all about or they did it deliberately so that the amnesty will fail; that is what I see. If they really know what Boko Haram is, they should not have constituted that kind of committee. That is why people are pulling out.
“My advice is that all the state governors should be consulted to nominate those they feel can help in the matter.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency on Friday faulted Sani and Ahmed’s refusal to serve on the amnesty committee.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, told one of our correspondents that the present administration “would succeed in its quest to restore peace to the country through the effort of the committee with or without the duo.”
The presidential spokesman said Sani’s argument that the committee would fail in its assignment because some persons were not included was wrong.
He said the right thing the activist should have done was to agree to serve on the committee and bring in his wealth of experience by suggesting to the committee those he feels could be contacted to make their job easier.
Abati said, “The reported rejection is unfortunate. If he had taken up the assignment, as a member, he can now tell his co-members that there are people they can talk to. I hope this is not mischief. People should come on board. Grandstanding and negativity is not the best in this matter.”
Abati stated that Ahmed was at a time recognised by Boko Haram as the only person that could help to restore peace to the country. He said Sani had served in similar capacities before and was found to be capable.
“They were chosen on the basis of their knowledge and experience. What kind of a man will have the experience and the opportunity to contribute to restoration of peace in his fatherland and reject such opportunity?” he said.
