FG should dialogue with Boko Haram – Yoruba elders

A group, under the aegis of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to call the dreaded Islamist extremists, Boko Haram for a peace talk in order to bring to a halt the crisis that is currently tearing the nation apart.

The group made this known in a New Year message signed by the National Treasurer of the Council, Dr. Dejo Raimi on behalf of its President, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd) and addressed to the President, Goodluck Jonathan.

According to the statement ‘’We would like them to know that nothing shall be achieved by mindless blood-letting. In all of human history, great wars that were fought were equally concluded, not on the battle field, but at the conference room,” the council stated.

The group observed that for over three years of Boko Haram insurgence, nothing meaningful had been achieved through their campaign.

While calling on the sect to embrace dialogue for peace to reign in the country, the ‘Igbimo Agba Yoruba’ advised the angry sect to make any issue bothering it known to government rather than engage in unnecessary violence.

‘’In over three years of open rebellion against the state, Boko Haram has not achieved anything positive, rather, their activities have left behind sorrow, tears and blood in that many promising young men, women and elders alike have been sent to their untimely graves,” the group said.

The Yoruba elders lauded President Jonathan for his ‘’maturity, diligence, tenacity and charisma,” with which he had handled the affairs of the nation.

‘’The major challenge that your administration has battled so seriously is the issue of security,” YCE stated.

On fuel scarcity, the Yoruba elders said: ‘’We suggest that any major policy implementation in the future should be preceded by adequate public enlightenment and sensitisation to avoid such breakdowns.”

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