Negotiation Is The Only Way + Reasons OBJ Held Meeting With Boko Haram’s Relatives- Shehu Sani

Mallam Shehu Sani a Civil Rights activist, has said the only
way the government can get back the over missing 200 Chibok school girls is by negotiating with Boko Haram. He also
said, people should desist from doubting if former president, Olusegun Obasanjo
held a meeting or not in Ogun State with some relatives of Boko Haram members.
Here is how The Nation reports it;

Civil Rights activist, Mallam Shehu Sani, said in Kaduna
Wednesday that he led a delegation of some families of suspected Boko Haram
members to a meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to find ways of
securing the release of the abducted schoolgirls.

Sani said in a statement made available to The Nation that
the meeting which took place at the Abeokuta residence of the former President
was aimed at opening a new channel of dialogue with leaders of the sect and
secure the release of the missing girls.

He expressed the hope that the meeting will lead to a
genuine dialogue between the abductors and the federal government on how to
secure the girls’ release.

He said, “My statement is in response to the reports and the
enquiries on the Abeokuta meeting with the former president Olusegun Obasanjo
and some family members of the Boko Haram group. The renewed effort to dialogue
with the leaders of Boko Haram is being pursued with vigour.

“This is to confirm that the meeting actually took place and
I was part of it. The meeting was solely aimed at exploring the possibility of
opening a new channel for dialogue or negotiation with the sect members towards
securing the release of the abducted Chibok girls held in captivity for over a
month.”

He noted that the meeting between the former President and
families of Boko Haram members appraised the reportedly collapsed back door
deal that was later cancelled by the Government.

“I wish to also confirm that the report of the intervention
of Mr. Salkida in negotiating the release of the Chibok girls is credible.

“I personally introduced Salkida to the government and spoke
about him in many of my previous interviews. He has tried his best in the past
and of recent to help in resolving the insurgency through dialogue but was on
all occasions frustrated by the government.

“Mr. Salkida should not be vilified but should be
appreciated. Mr. Salkida’s attempt could have actually see to the release of
the abducted girls. The meeting in Abeokuta was aimed at repackaging and
salvaging the dialogue option. It was generally agreed that the initiative
cannot take off without the consent of the Federal Government. It’s significant
for Nigerians to note that negotiation is the only safer option to get the
girls back home,” Sani stated.