FG, Boko Haram ceasefire deal deceptive – Activist Sani

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

Human Right Activist and chairman of the Civil Liberty Organisation, Comrade Shehu Sani, has said that the official announcement by the federal government that Boko Haram had agreed with it on ceasefire deal which signals ending the five year’s insurgency in the North- East zone was political and deceptive.

Comrade Sani who was once selected by Jonathan’s administration early this year to be among government’s agents to negotiate with the sect but rejected it on the grounds that government was not sincere, refuted the ceasefire declaration on the Hausa Service of the BBC monitored in Jos, arguing that in any declaration of ceasefire between a government and a group, the two parties involved always came together and seen by the public at a venue deliberating on the issue in orer to authenticate a claim.

This according to him would help to clear people’s doubts, adding that the individuals involved must be seen by everyone who might have double thoughts in the process.

He said, “The declaration of the ceasefire deal between the FG and Boko Haram is deceptive because Nigerians have not seen the government representatives and that of Boko Haram discussing the deal on either the television or at least viewed pictures on newspapers at a venue, to show us that the agreement is true.

“A critical issue is not always solved in a hidden manner. The two parties involved should at least be seen. This would help to eliminate any doubts from the minds of the people ” , he added.

Sani however noted that the issue of “ceasefire deal ” between Nigerian authority and that of Boko Haram was not the first of its kind, saying that the government had severally made such claim but nothing positive was done in respect of the that claim, adding that it is still an old story.

Sani further alleged that there was no good intention to solve the Boko Haram insurgency in the country and to end it, there must be good intention and will by the government.

Sani also noted that the “so- call ceasefire “was always heard from the government but the other party (Boko Haram) had never made any announcement in relation to the matter.