Boko Haram Gives Jonathan 78 hrs Ultimatum

http://hiuhuonline.com/ Huhuonline.com http://hiuhuonline.com/ can reveal that the Nigerian terrorist and insurgent group, Boko Haram has issued a 78 hours ultimatum to President Goodluck Jonathan to have a closed door meeting with members of the sect. An unidentified caller on Africa Independent Television (AIT), allegedly speaking on behalf of the Islamist terrorist group had on Saturday specified the sect's readiness to negotiate truce terms with President Goodluck Jonathan.  

  'We want Dr Jonathan one on one. No police, no nothing. And if he doesn't address us in the next 78 hours, we are going to strike and th5is time around; we are coming to Abuja and Lagos. We are not hiding it; we are going to see to it.'  

  The call has however reinforced the advice by the secretary general of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr Lateef Adegbite that the Federal Government should urgently negotiate with the sect, having claimed responsibility for several bombings and gun attacks in parts of Northern Nigeria.  

  But it is recalled that the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Sunday Ola Makinde, asked Jonathan to be courageous in the face of the security challenge posed by the Boko Haram sect.  

  Although, the Presidency is yet to speak out on the new development, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has called on Nigerians to stand up against all entreaties from the terrorist group which has caused wanton killings and destruction in the country.  

  The alleged Boko Haram caller posited that 'We want many, many things. First of all, when (former President) Obasanjo visited our brother, Mohammed Yussuf's family to make arrangement for us to make an agreement, when he left, soldiers arrested our brother and handed him to the SSS and the police had to kill our brother.  

  'I am going to summarize what we want. Firstly, release some people he (the president) arrested.  

  Secondly, if Jonathan wants to cooperate with us, he must follow what the letter we sent to…. He must accept to our proposal which we demand. He knows what we want. Second…..You know…. the application of Sharia Islamic law … (in the North) and the reason he permitted …and how our members who were detained.  

  '…Ali Modu Sherrif, Alhaji Abubakar, and all must be arrested; former Minister of Police Affairs and Mr. Ibrahim Yakubu must be arrested.  

  'So, now, I will tell you what we want so that we can stop our riots: we want Dr. Jonathan one on one. We want to meet him one on one. No police, nothing …nothing. And if he doesn't address us in the next 78 hours, we are going to strike and, this time around, we are coming to Abuja and Lagos. We are not hiding it; we are going to see to it.  And this time around, it is not something that we are going to take easy. Because…..He knows what our problem was…do you understand me?'  

  'They are the ones causing our riot…it's a problem, and if he wants to make negotiations with us directly here, two conditions: First, he must come to Yobe State, with no police or security with him…Second, he must appear at AIT station, we will put a number, he will call us and we will tell him our reason. We want to talk to him openly, we want the public to know what the problem is, and we don't want to say something privately. We want it openly.'  

  Recall that the NSCIA scribe, Adegbite, last week, advocated dialogue by government, among other measures, in the efforts to tackle Boko Haram insurgency.  

  'I think the efforts of the Federal Government should continue, government should continue to put in more efforts to effective dialogue because there is no solution other than dialogue. Those who are saying no don't talk with violent people, there is nowhere in the world that you don't talk with violent people; even after wars, you must come around the table and dialogue to have terms of peace.  

  'We must stand up for solution through dialogue and then we must carry on other programmes, incentives; the poverty issue is important.  If I were in government, I will concentrate on poverty battle, the flash points like Boko Haram; so that they themselves will say there is something good for them to seek in the Federal Government.  

  'Then, government should also take tough measures against the recalcitrant ones amongst them, and those who are extremists; we cannot allow them to be killing innocent people. Those of them who want to be violent should be flushed out and dealt with, and those who are reasonable, you draw them down through incentives. Those who are violent and extremist, deal with them, but you must do things according to the law, without provoking more violent reaction.'  

  Meanwhile, in a statement  on Saturday, the Methodist Church Nigeria Prelate, Dr Sunday Ola Makinde said, 'I want to urge Mr President to pray more that God should expose those sponsoring Boko Haram in the county. There are lots of enemies surrounding him and I know that God of our fore fathers-Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe, ObafemiAwolowo, and Herbert Macaulay, who sacrificed their all to win independence for us-will expose the enemies of the nation they fought for. I am assuring all Christians that God will fight the battle for us; some may trust in chariots and horses and bombs but God of Abraham will vindicate and save us from all these security challenges.'  

  The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has also called on Nigerians to stand up against the perpetrators of terrorism in the country by availing security operatives the information that would aid the government's onslaught against their onslaught on innocent Nigerians, adding that 'failure of leadership in any part of the world is also the failure of the society'.  

  In the development, members of the House of Representatives has put their weight behind the proposal issued by Boko Haram, to seek open dialogue with Jonathan, urging President Jonathan to urgently accept the offer in a bid to enthrone national peace and unity.  

  According to the Deputy House leader, Hon. Leor Ogor, 'There should be absolute sincerity from them. The people suffering the bomb attacks are innocent people. I will appeal to President Jonathan to listen to them and hear what they have to say. Let us hear what they have to say so that we can move the country forward. We can agree to disagree but violence is not an option. I therefore appeal to them to cease violence and embrace dialogue.'  

  'If it is true that the group is calling for dialogue, government should move fast to embrace it. This is an indication that an end is in sight to these senseless killings and this opportunity should not be lost.  

  But other National Assembly members cautioned the Presidency to act with caution in accepting the plot by the insurgent group and suggested that 'While dialogue is necessary, we should be cautious. A group cannot just come and give the president conditions and expect that he would jump at it without weighing the security implications for the country. We have to assess their readiness and seriousness.'