The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), yesterday continued his shuttle of trouble spots by meeting with elders in Borno State.

It was learnt that Dasuki has opted for dialogue instead of carrying the battle to the doorstep of Boko Haram.

Investigation revealed that the NSA had closed door session with Borno elders, including a former Minister of Communications, Gen. Mohammed Shuwa; ex-Military Governor of the North-East, Brig-Gen. Abba Kyari; Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Umaru Shehu; Ambassador Usman Galtimari (who recently headed a presidential committee on the crisis in the North-East) and a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Comrade Ali Ciroma.

A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: "The NSA is trying to change his tactics. He is exploring dialogue with all leaders in the troubled spots. He said instead of taking the battle to the doorstep of Boko Haram, it is better to facilitate dialogue.

"He is engaging all these leaders in order to mobilise them to play key roles in prevailing on the sponsors of Boko Haram to sheathe their swords. The truth is that some of the sponsors are known to the locals.

"And Northern leaders are working covertly to assist him to restore peace to all the affected states in the North."

Asked if the government will concede anything to Boko Haram leaders, the source said: "We have not got to that level because the NSA is reaching out to the elders to facilitate dialogue on terms acceptable to all."

But the NSA said yesterday that he has not fixed any timeline to put an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.

He said he did not make any January 20 commitment to resolve the violence in the North.

A statement issued on Friday by the Special Assistant to the NSA on Media, Karounwi Adekunle, said: "The NSA has denied reports quoting him as putting a timeline to the end of Boko Haram Islamist sect hostility in parts of the country.

"The NSA, who is on tour of some states where Boko Haram hostility has been rampant to meet stakeholders in such areas, was quoted in some media reports to have said that an end will come to Boko Haram hostility before the commencement of Ramadan Fast.

"The NSA never at any forum in Potiskum, Damaturu, both Yobe State on Thursday or today in Maiduguri, Borno State said he will bring an end to the sect's hostility before the start of Ramadan fast.

"His cogent message in all the meetings he's held so far with some stakeholders is the need for leaders to reach out and prevail on Boko Haram members to cease fire so as to create room for dialogue.

"This clarification has become necessary to avoid further spread of this misinformation and unnecessary insinuations."

[size=14pt]He is engaging all these leaders in order to mobilise them to play key roles in prevailing on the sponsors of Boko Haram to sheathe their swords. The truth is that some of the sponsors are known to the locals.[/size]

ebgbest: To ma crap brain sumtin iz honestly wrong here, if our government keep dialogin wit terroist/millitant den soon all d geo-political zone will soon hav a sect... Niger delta Millitant are nw all big boyz travelin around d world 4 tranin witout payin kobo n nw boko haram......smh

kinguwem: The NSA should have an option B. He should not put all his eggs in a one basket. Boko haram has international connections. The war cannot be won only by prevailing on elders who are equally scarced of the sect. The NSA should liaise with countries that have intelligence information about the mode of operation of the group. Finally, the NSA should know that negotiations with terrorism is usually a conter-productive short term solution. He shall be fully prepared for war with them. He should borrow a leaf from the Israelis and Americans.

jydeayanx: I hope something gud comes out of it o. I pray it will not boomerang

emmykk: Am angry and bitter.i hate nigeria.this is what wil happen next.
Dusaki WANT to settle boko haram members like niger delta militant,so if a hot headed youth pick arms against nigeria the next thing is 2 settle them.what happen 2 the army of law abiding unemployed graduates and others? Bet me 2moro anoda group wil sprang up.today militants are been paid 4 that crime of oil war.am a deltan am not smiling.

lacasa: He is in Borno?

Thot his Oga said the airport is bad n dats Ɣ he hasn't Gone

Abi them don repair am

#coward C in C

Danka7777: '\

What is wrong with you? What country have you been living in? Haven't you been following the "Military Joint Task Force" use of force on them; has it been working? Come on man, the change of strategy is a welcome development. If you still insist on using force and more lives being lost, I have no problem with that but would have to conscript you into the military, have you join the JTF and lead the fight, militarily?

Dasuki is an IBB boy. Groomed for most of his military service on solid intelligence and security. He knows how to approach this and who to contact to bring this under control. You think this is an easy job: you see this guy metaphorically is not afraid to ride the camel to dialogue with his kinsmen. Adeze "Aziza" whatever is name is, sat his fat ass in the Villa.

The positions of NSA and Minister of defense should be left to the northerners. This is their expertise. Don't ask me why because they have ruled this country for more than 40 yrs and understand the dynamics of the country. I am awaiting the appointment of Maj. General Akilu, another IBB boy as minister of defense. He is currently being vetted. These people alone can solve this Boko Haram problem through "intelligence" not "militarily". Jonathan has been advised on this and he is bringing IBB boys in full throttle.

Ask Obasanjo why he chose another IBB boy, Gusau as NSA. If you think you can run this country without IBB's assistance, it will not work and Jonathan is understanding now. So bring them on board. Hilltop Villa in Minna is the de facto Nigerian Intelligence Headquarter.

Some facts
IBB in 1986 founded the nation security system below and still have 80% of his boys still running it today:

State Security Service (SSS) - Responsible for domestic intelligence
National Intelligence Agency (NIA) - Responsible for Foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations
Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) - Responsible for military intelligence

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Intelligence_Agency_%28Nigeria%29

ebgbest: on point man..... Bt wat happen next when people from other zone say mid-belt, the massob,opc decide to raise their arm against the government again...... Why can our government ask for help from other nation

cheddarking: I believe President Jonathan is silly to explore dialogue with Boko Haram...unless of course he's trying to lull them into a state of false security before striking and crushing them.

I think that even now the Government should be massively overhauling(weeding out the shit) and recruiting the police force raising the minimum salary to at least 150k as incentive.
This will kill to birds with one stone: provide jobs, and enlarging the security force.

I also think jonathan needs to make scapegoats out of certain high placed political figures. Imagine what the public execution of people like IBB,or Buhari would mean for his ratings? There would be public outcry, but the masses will love him. And if the masses are on HIS side, his opponents will fear him.

In short, I think for now, Nigeria needs a dictator not a president. Someone strong willed and principled, but also dangerous and brutal.

deltaforce7: Whatever strategy that restores peace to the troubled north -bred insurgency group called Boko Haram IS ACCEPTABLE by me. Truth is that the sponsors are well known to the locals as stated for they live among them. Peace, the way of peace, is what will move this nation forward. Too many troubles already.

kutchs: His oga is the president and he is the NSA. He doesnt fly ‘Air Force 1‘ his oga does and the Maiduguri airport is not conducive to accomondate that.

cheddarking: I believe President Jonathan is silly to explore dialogue with Boko Haram...unless of course he's trying to lull them into a state of false security before striking and crushing them.

I think that even now the Government should be massively overhauling(weeding out the shit) and recruiting the police force raising the minimum salary to at least 150k as incentive.
This will kill to birds with one stone: provide jobs, and enlarging the security force.

[b]I also think jonathan needs to make scapegoats out of certain high placed political figures. Imagine what the public execution of people like IBB,or Buhari would mean for his ratings? [/b]There would be public outcry, but the masses will love him. And if the masses are on HIS side, his opponents will fear him.

In short, I think for now, Nigeria needs a dictator not a president. Someone strong willed and principled, but also dangerous and brutal.

baslone:

Easier said that done!

Abacha ate a prostitute's apple, convulsed and dropped dead, there's more
to the story than that.GEJ is not that stupid.

A soldier will always be a soldier till death. Even OBJ rise to the occasion. The
military is like a cult- you don't want to mess with them.