http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/19751-obasanjo-leads-peace-talks-with-boko-haram.html
By Yusuf Alli, Abuja 1 hour ago

The Federal Government yesterday opened talks with members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is leading the peace moves, visited the family of the slain leader of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, in Maiduguri for a closed-door session.

Obasanjo, who arrived in Maiduguri at about 11.40am, was received by Borno State Deputy Governor Zanna Umar Mustapha.

Although the former President claimed that he was on a private visit, it was learnt that the visit was to initiate the talks, which the government plans to have with the Boko Haram (Western education is sin) members.

A source, who pleaded not to be named because of the "sensitivity" of the matter, said: "Obasanjo met Mohammed Yusuf’s family at Railway Quarters, the demolished headquarters of Boko Haram.

"The ex-President stayed with them for about one and a half hours before departing for the airport."

Obasanjo was said to have flown into Maiduguri from Jos where he had a joint peace meeting with the Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Plateau leaders.

The source said Obasanjo pleaded with Yusuf’s family to prevail on Boko Haram members to sheathe their sword and stop the spate of bombings nationwide.

The source quoted Obasanjo as saying: "This is a personal initiative. I urge you to forgive and forget the past.

"I plead with you to give me the chance to mediate between the family and the government."

The brother-in-law of the slain Boko Haram leader, Babakura Fuggu, whose father was also executed in 2009, reportedly said: "Since 2009, this is the first time any high-profile figure has commiserated with the family.

"We are happy with this visit. About 30-40 per cent of our members are scattered in neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun."

The source added that Obasanjo may brief President Goodluck Jonathan on his mission on or before this weekend.

A top government source, who pleaded for anonymity, said: "The government is ready for talks with Boko Haram, like it did in the Niger Delta.

"The ex-President has decided to avail the government of his experience in peace-keeping operations. He believes dialogue could save the nation from bomb explosions.

"You should expect more follow-up talks with the Boko Haram sect. After all, after returning from the battle front, we go back to the peace table."

Roland17:

I just hope he gets bombed during the talks.

okada_man:

[size=28pt]The Owners of Nigeria have been forced to come out and actively protect their investment.[/size]

Let's see if we can fight ideology with amnesty and begging.

abiolak:

Now that a nice step is made by the owners of nigeria, i pray that it works,

But my question is we were told that they hate western education,  Now he is pleading for thier slayed leader, who kill them and for what reason, so it simply means there are things under the capet that we ordinary nigerians do not know.

Big B1:

Absolutely a very wrong move by OBJ.
You must not negotiate with a terrorist under all circumstances

In general, leaders are confronted with challenges and opportunities that are extremely dynamic and complex, the tough part of it all is making critical decisions with absolutely incomplete information. This is why they are called leaders, why we all look up to them, why they are elected to their various important positions and why they should be leaders.
But in my country, things are seen and done differently; and this is why we call our leaders looters.

Obasanjo again has made a despicable move that will only add to the mess already on ground.
This type of move will send a wrong message not only to Boko Haram group but also to other vicious groups (copycats) out there. Negotiation is a clear indication of weakness; you just don't do it, at least not this way.
OBJ should have realized that negotiation with this type of terrorist entails real costs we cannot afford.

OBJ has simply sold the country to the Boko Haram at a very cheap price. Mark it down, this group is gaining confidence by OBJ's visit, they feel that their actions have been been justified. They will strike again.

You do not negotiate with terrorist
You do not give them any positive attention
You do not embrace any of their premises
You do not sit with them.
You do not let them notice your weakness.

United stated leaders didn't just put these rules together, they've don't their home work extensively. If you don't go by these rules you will pay.
Mark it down, OBJ's move will not solve anything, but only encourage this group to go crazy whenever they feel like it, and keep in mind that the Delta connection (militants) is also watching.

What Nigerian government should have done:
They should have secretly invited the currently leader of this terrorist group and strike a closed door deal with him. (OR) they should have sent a neutral representative to discover the best way to settle the matter with the current leader of this group. But as a former president or a current president, you absolutely do not meet with any kind of terrorist group, (especially with a terrorist group who has killed close to 1000 innocent citizens)
Jonathan has no brain and OBJ's brain is also still missing.

IBB will never have made such a fo0lish and selfish move.
I called it selfish move because OBJ has only made this move simply to become relevant once again.

There is nothing better for any nation than to have a president that has common sense and can think effectively on his own.

Sorry, I totally disagree with the move.

Beaf:

Your analysis is on the naive side.[size=28pt] It is not possible for Obj to visit members of boko haram without the express go ahead from GEJ[/size]. Ok? Anybody that does that will be arrested. Simple as ABC.
Secondly, the FBI is in [b]total [/b]control of the boko haram investigations, therefore Obj's move also has FBI clearance.

It seems very strange that neither IBB, nor another core-Northerner was chosen to talk to boko haram. Today is a damn strange day!

Big B1:

Who is this fool?

Ileke-IdI:

LOL This has got to be a joke.

A real joke.

In what law is that specifically defined? Ok seriously, is there a memo I forgot to read about Nigeria being a dictatorial nation?  

If I want to speak with boko harem leader in a quest for peace in Nigeria, GEJ has no right stopping me. Obviously, GEJ's methods are not working.

o you know sth that we don't know?

Beaf:

Your analysis is on the naive side. It is not possible for Obj to visit members of boko haram without the express go ahead from GEJ. Ok? Anybody that does that will be arrested. Simple as ABC.

Beaf:

The only fool I know is 70 years old.

[img]http://2.bp..com/-BzyV7263rVA/TlIcIWC4XvI/AAAAAAAAGbc/UAh6DCUtl3o/s400/obj+and+ibb+lindaikejiblog.jpg[/img]

If you decide to go speak with terrorists, nobody has the right to stop you? Its even much much worse than going to visit wanted armed robbers.
Even in the US where you are, you cannot go visit a wanted terrorist; the implications would be dire.

The bottomline though, is that someone had to have named those people as boko haram. IMHO, thats either the SSS or the FBI.
Obj cannot know such things on his own, neither will any of those two agencies volunteer such info to anyone but the President. Nigeria might be chaotic, but its not a wild place where anyone can just get up and take on the duties of the FG, you've got to be nominated as an ambassador for the purpose.

Your analysis is on the naive side. It is not possible for Obj to visit members of boko haram without the express go ahead from GEJ. Ok? Anybody that does that will be arrested. Simple as ABC.
Secondly, the FBI is in total control of the boko haram investigations, therefore [b]Obj's move also has FBI clearance.[/b]It seems very strange that neither IBB, nor another core-Northerner was chosen to talk to boko haram. Today is a damn strange day!

FBI clearance,  sorry,  I know we open our mouth to Yankee anyhow,,, but wetin concern FBI clearance to talk to a Nigerian Citizen, within Nigeria,  LOL, we seem to be getting carried away now,  FBI Clearance in Nigeria,

My take is for OBJ to be talking to the Boko Haram leader,  means they know where the terror is coming from, and all these while they kept quiet,  But now that they think this war might hit them
personally, they have now decided to talk, 

OR They are in the know and want to tell GEJ that we are in control, so he has made this move,
Either way it smells of a cabal in operation and in the know, Now OBJ has a one up on GEJ , no matter how much GEJ is bn convinced that OBJ has diminishing powers within PDP

Please 4get the FBI side I begiii, its embarassing mehn

So what has d Governor of the state bn doing since, drinking with the boko haram boys, or saying, u watch they will come and beg us,  ARREST ALL OF THEM JOH,

one sect in a country of 150 milion,  na wah oooo

@ beaf so u are the person who posted this FBI clearance,  thing,  na wah ooo u really don fall for awa hand ooo FBI Clearance in Nigeria, 

@ beaf posted, Your analysis is on the naive side. It is not possible for Obj to visit members of boko haram without the express go ahead from GEJ. Ok? Anybody that does that will be arrested. Simple as ABC.
Secondly, the FBI is in total control of the boko haram investigations, therefore Obj's move also has FBI clearance.It seems very strange that neither IBB, nor another core-Northerner was chosen to talk to boko haram. Today is a damn strange day!

Whatever the motives behind this move or the expected short-term benefits, it is a strategy that would backfire in the long-term. 

OBJ/GEJ/FG/the establishment has unwittingly endorsed violence as the approach to adopt if you want to make your grievances known as a group.  Why are they not apologizing to the families of hundreds of Nigerians that have lost their lives to extra-judicial killings?

With the army of unemployed and disgruntled youths, I hope so many other groups would not spring up using violence as the bargaining tool for one thing or the other