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**why did the Boko Haram chose Buhari and not another former head of state to lead its talks?
The sour relationship between the Presidency and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, took a further downward spiral, yesterday, when the seat of power took exception to the allegation by the former head of state that the Boko Haram sect was a creation of the PDP-led government and that he shouldn’t be roped into its problems.
Buhari had addressed the press in Abuja on Wednesday and absolved himself of any link with the sect as well as declined an offer from the group to mediate in its reconciliatory talks with the Federal Government.
The Presidency was infuriated by the general’s statement and has asked him to explain why the sect chose him and not another former head of state to lead its talks.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said it was amazing that the sect named Buhari as one of its leading mediators with the government.
Okupe said: “What amazes me here is the fact that they mentioned Gen. Buhari to be one of the mediators. So things are beginning to fall into place.
“And the reaction from the CPC does not help matters at all after all an elder statesman, Dr. Ali Mongunu, was also mentioned and the man has neither rejected nor said anything wrong but the CPC quickly disowned Boko Haram in a very suspicious and questionable manner.
“From my own perspective, it would appear to me that with the statement that is coming from Gen. Buhari that Boko Haram is a creation of PDP and that they should go and fix it, that he is economical with the truth.
“How does that apply to Boko Haram inviting him to mediate in its talks? Is it the government that asked Boko Haram to invite him? And even if it is PDP that created Boko Haram, why should they be asking for Buhari to mediate?”