4th July, 2015
Femi Adesina, the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity has stated that the federal government will only negotiate with Islamist sect, Boko Haram, from the position of strength.
In a statement issued today, he noted that the federal government was open to negotiations with the sect. “Most wars, however furious or vicious, often end around the negotiation table.
“So, if Boko Haram opts for negotiation, the government will not be averse to it. Government will, however, not be negotiating from a position of weakness, but that of strength. The machinery put in place, and which will be set in motion soon, can only devastate and decapitate insurgency,” he said.
He noted that: “It is multinational in nature, and relief is on the way for Nigeria and her neighbours. President Muhammadu Buhari is resolute. He has battled and won insurgency before, he is poised to win again. It is a promise he made to Nigerians, and he is a promise keeper.”
“But I say again, if the insurgents want to negotiate, no decent government will be averse to such. Didn’t the Taliban and Americans also negotiate in Afghanistan?” the statement read.