The governor stated this at Government House, Maiduguri when he granted audience to a high-powered delegation of foreign security experts who were in Borno State to assess the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram sect.
The team was led by Brigadier General Jack Ogunewe, the Director of Foreign Liaison of the Nigerian Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).
The security experts were drawn from Britain, USA, France, India, Italy, Senegal, South Africa, Brazil and Burkina Faso among others.
Shettima said the Boko Haram militancy did not start two years ago, adding that even though the military must remain on the streets of Maiduguri and other northern states in order to protect the lives of the citizenry, the final and most potent solution to the crisis is dialogue.
"There is serious disconnect between previous governments and the poor. There was dereliction of responsibility on the side of the leaders and the fact is that a hungry, angry man is vulnerable to all social vices," Shettima said.
He said federal and state governments must address the root cause of the insurgency by reducing poverty through job creation, access to education and health to the people. He said his administration was ever ready to go into dialogue with the "moderate elements" among the Boko Haram members.
Earlier, General Ogunewe said the security experts were in Maiduguri to assess the modus operandi of the Joint Task Force (JTF).
"All the people that are here are defence attaches and advisors of their countries. They are here to familiarize themselves with what is happening as well as the environment. They represent their countries here in Nigeria in the areas of defence, security and diplomacy," he said.
.
Daily Trust