By Lawrence Olaoye.
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday held a meeting with former Borno state governor, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff and the former military administrator of Lagos state, Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa.
Although details of the meeting are not readily available as at the time of filing this report, there are insinuations that they may not be unconnected with the ongoing negotiations with the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents for the release of the over 200 Government Secondary School girls they abducted over six months ago.
A cease-fire deal was last week brokered with the leadership of the insurgents with a subsequent meeting held in Chad between Jonathan’s Private Principal Secretary, Hamman Tukur and the leadership of Boko Haram yesterday.
Prior to the Niamey meeting brokered by President Idriss Derby of Chad between the Nigerian authorities and the Boko Haram representatives, speculations were rife that the abducted Chibok girls would be released after the parties may have finalized their agreements yesterday.
It was reported that both parties in the crisis agreed to cease-fire on condition that the insurgents would exchange some of their prime members in Nigerian prisons for the Chibok girls.
But the girls were yet to be released as at the time of filing this report.
Approached for comments after the meeting with the President on his mission to the State House, Sheriff said “I can’t talk to you now. I’m rushing to see the Chief of Staff.”
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