ACF, Ireland back Boko Haram talks

Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Fay, has expressed support for the current efforts by the Federal Government to enter into dialogue with the Boko Haram sect.

The ambassador, who met with officials of Arewa Consultative Forum on Wednesday in Kaduna, said force alone would not end insurgency.

Fay, who described inter religious relations in Nigeria as “very good”, said the Boko Haram insurgence was not a reflection of the mutual respect that exists among communities in the North.

He cited the example of 2011, when Muslims in Kano protected churches on Christmas day to forestall any attack.

Fay recalled his country’s long years of civil war, saying, “there is nothing that is intractable, everything is solveable and is solved by negotiation’’.

The envoy added, “Dialogue is the only answer’’, commending the ACF in its effort to end the conflict in the region “through discussions’’.

National Publicity Sectary of ACF, Mr Anthony Sani, said the organisation would continue to promote peace and unity in the North through active consultation with all stakeholders.

He said the ACF would also continue to promote national unity and integration, and called on Nigerians to support the move to grant amnesty to the Boko Haram sect.

Sani urged the ambassador to share with the Nigerian government the experiences of his country in its long years of civil war. 

“Your own experience will help to bring about peace in the North and Nigeria in general,” he said.

He condemned those criticising the amnesty project, saying it would help to build the needed confidence for the leaders of the insurgents to embrace dialogue.

“There is no way the application and management of amnesty is going to be easy,” he noted, saying the Federal Government must not deviate from the path of dialogue.

The spokesman also spoke on the ACF’s rejection of convocation of sovereign national conference, saying it was based on its belief in the sanctity of existing democratic institutions.

source:Punch Nigeria