The Minister of Special Duties spoke
The Federal Government, Friday, reiterated its position that members of the outlawed Boko Haram have accepted to dialogue with the government.
The Minister of Special Duties and Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Tanimu Turaki, stated this while briefing journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.
Mr. Turaki quoted the group as saying that “it becomes incumbent upon every Muslim to accept that dialogue option”.
The minister, who was flanked by members of the committee, played a video clip of a meeting of the supposed leadership of the sect who spoke in Arabic language after which Mr. Turaki translated. The video, in Arabic, was played to reporters and translated by Mr. Turaki’s committee. PREMIUM TIMES is not in possession of the video and is unable to confirm its content.
The translation read by Mr. Turaki, however, shows that the Boko Haram ‘leaders’ in the video are already in prison.
“More surprised the committee met us in prison custody and explained to us reason for their visit and also asked four fundamental questions,” one of the leaders was translated by Mr. Turaki as saying in the video.
“Thirdly, which assistance those of us in detention would give in realisation of that,” the speaker said confirming that those of them in the video were already in government’s detention facilities.
It is not clear how much influence members of the sect in detention have on those perpetrating criminal acts outside, although Mr. Turaki’s committee apparently believes they do.
Mr. Turaki said the Boko Haram ‘leaders’ accepted to dialogue after “strenuous efforts of the committee,” and in line with the teaching of Prophet Mohammed.
“What you have just watched is a video clip of some of the members of the Jamatul Alhus Sunnah Jehad, we have sat down in Shura and Shura is the highest decision making council,” Mr. Turaki said after playing the video clip.
“They sat down in Shura and the have analyzed from purely Islamic perspective taking into account the clear and unambiguous position of the Holy Koran and taken into account the teachings and fundamentally, the practices of the Holy Prophet Mohammed on the issue of dialogue and peaceful reconciliation. Strengthening their position again with the work of other great Islamic scholars globally who have had cause to also make research and come up with a lot of literature supporting the course of dialogue,” he said.
He said the Boko Haram members believed that they were living by the teachings of the prophet as enshrined in the provisions of the Quran.
“Now, the Qur’an specifically says that sulh (dialogue, negotiation or settlement), has a lot values, and in fact Muslims are encouraged to enter into dialogue. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), who practicalised the provisions of the Qur’an and the teachings of Islam, has also entered into agreement or treaty of Hudaibiyyah, where even the terms that were proposed and agreed upon at that time were clearly against the interest of Muslims, but the prophet (peace be upon him) accepted and at the end of the day it paved way for everlasting peace even till today within the Arabian Peninsula.”
” So there is peace not only in the Middle East including even the Far East. What we are saying is that we are convinced that all the efforts we are making we will now be able to arrive at the middle course. Of course, dialogue does not mean that there would be absence of differences,” he said.
He added that the group also claimed that as far as dialogue is concerned, “Muslims who operate strictly in accordance with the teachings of Prophet Mohammed have no option but to accept. They have also called on others that are in the field to accept the option in the spirit of peaceful co- existence and give peace a chance”.
Mr. Turaki said his committee was also “discussing with other very respected and key leaders who are in the field and discussions are getting to advanced stage.”
“As soon as we get to the point where we have gotten with these people, we shall inform you and the world that the dialogue option as envisaged by the President is not only working but that it has glaringly establish the wisdom of Mr. President towards resolving the security challenges ones and for all.
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