Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has claimed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo met with Boko Haram leaders in Maiduguri, Borno State, but the government reneged on its part of the negotiations.
Gumi claimed that the leaders of the terrorist group had promised to lay down their weapons during the meeting with the former president.
In a video, the Islamic scholar expressed concern that the government negotiates with every group but has refused to speak with Boko Haram.
“You negotiate with the Taliban, Hamas; you negotiate with everybody you have problems with; why can’t we negotiate with them? So it’s now like a taboo to negotiate with them?
“Look at Obasanjo; he told me this himself that, at the early stage of Boko Haram, he went to Maiduguri where he met with the leaders of Boko Haram and they agreed to lay down their arms.
“And he came back, but the government was reluctant to take action, and he was bitter about that; you can interview him.
Gumi further charged the Nigerian government to sort out its security challenges and not look towards the international community.
He said, “Nigeria has to show the international community that this is our baby, this is how we want, and not depending on your ethics and standards.
“The government should not listen to the international community because this is our problem and we have to solve it.
“Secondly, the population- just imagine that I’m trying hard to reconcile and look at how much blackmail and wrong information; what more is the government doing with it?
“The government shouldn’t be blackmailed; that’s what is hindering the government. If I were to be president, I would just come around and give a six-month amnesty window for them to put down their weapons.”
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Obasanjo met Boko Haram leaders, they agreed to lay down arms, govt reneged – Sheikh Gumi