Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, has said that despite the proscribing of Boko Haram by the Federal Government, it will continue to engage the sect in to constructive dialogue to ensure lasting peace in the region.
Chairman of the Committee and Minister of Special Duties, Alh. Saminu Turaki stated this yesterday in Jos while addressing Journalists shortly after a courtesy call on the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman Joint Traditional Council Plateau State, Da Jacob Gyang Buba.
He said the ban on Boko Haram by the Federal Government does not stop the function of the committee, stressing that they are to constructively engage key members of the Boko Haram; to define a comprehensive and workable framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the Country and to development a framework for granting amnesty, to set up a frame work through which disarmament could take place within 60 days time frame.
According to him, the committee is to develop a comprehensive victims' support programme and to develop a mechanisms to address the underlying causes of insurgencies with a view to preventing future occurrences among others as its recommendation.
Turaki who spoke on the need to safeguard lives of innocent citizens and their properties insist that the committee is still in place "Let's me say without missing wards, the prescription of Boko Haram Sect will not in any way fundamentally affects the assignment that the committee have been doing, if you look at what has been happening in other jurisdiction, take South Africa as an example, ANC as it where was a political organisation that was ban, the fact that it was ban by the apathy regime did not prevent them at a point in time to engage them in fruitful discussion even when President Nelson Mandela was in prison, interaction and discussion were been held between him and Apathy regime up to the time when Apathy was dismantle and President Mandela took over.
"The same thing with IRA, even when America was fighting Vedinam and that is the highest pick of conflict that you could talk of, discussion and dialogue were going on. What we are saying is that, government has to take certain steps to ensure that the lives and properties of law abiding citizens are protected.
Turaki maintained that it is the responsibility of government at all level to protect lives and properties of its citizens and insist that his committee is coming up with a policy framework to assist government in that direction.
"Government some times need to take decision that will ensure lawlessness will not be tolerated.
"Our constructive engagement and discussion will still continue, we are going to continue what we are doing and we are in Jos now, we are making consultations with the critical stakeholders.
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