Contrary to the media speculation that there was an ongoing peace talks between members of Islamic fundamentalist, Boko Haram, and a delegation of the Northern State Governors’ Forum, the presidency has denied the rumour, saying it was not aware of such negotiation.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, as far President Goodluck Jonathan was concerned, members of the extremists remain faceless, since nobody had so far approached him on their behalf.
Gulak was responding to a recent statement made by the sect in which its members took exception to Jonathan’s statement during his recent state visit to Yobe and Borno states that members of the sect were “ghosts” and so he could not grant them amnesty as proposed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.
He challenged any Governor currently talking with members of the sect to approach Jonathan and brief him on the ongoing talks.
The special adviser noted that as far as the President was concerned, until somebody approaches him to represent the sect, the report of ongoing talks was a speculation which Jonathan could not act on.
He said, “The President is not aware of any governor either from the North, South, East or West negotiating with Boko Haram.
“Let any governor that is negotiating with the sect come to the President and tell him that he is representing them and that he wants amnesty for them.
“As it is now, no governor has come forward to say that, so it is just a speculation and the President cannot work on mere speculation.”
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