The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, has said that the only condition he can initiate a dialogue between Boko Haram and the Federal Government is for the members of the group to reveal their identities.
Tambuwal, who is from Sokoto State, said the acting Governor of the state, Lawal Zayyana, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, were ready to intervene in the crisis for amicable resolution so long as members of the sect identified themselves publicly. The Speaker explained that such intervention was in line with the spirit of dialogue canvassed by President Goodluck Jonathan, who had also challenged the group to reveal its identity.
Tambuwal was reacting to reports alleging that the group sent him a letter along with the acting governor and the Sultan, seeking their intervention to secure the release of sect members held by security agencies in Sokoto State.
In a statement by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, on Friday, Tambuwal denied receiving such letter.
“We are yet to receive any letter from the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’ati wal Jihad, aka Boko Haram and we’re not aware of the alleged arrest and detention of any of their members,” the statement said.
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Source: Punch Newspapers
