Boko Haram: Why Northern retired Generals are silent
From NOAH EBIJE, Kaduna
Monday, November 28, 2011

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Photo: Sun News Publishing
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A source closed to Army Generals of the Northern extraction has attributed the silence of the officers from the region on the menace of the Boko Haram sect on the fear of being misquoted by the public.

According to the source would not like to make public comment on the issue to avoid being misquoted of taking side with the Islamic group, adding that the Generals were of the opinion that, “you don’t go to war or confront somebody who is ready to commit suicide on the spot because you can’t win such fight, so in such situation, dialogue becomes the next option.”

Specifically, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Ethics and Values, Sarah Jibril had a week ago blamed retired Generals and elders of the zone for the unabated activities of the Boko Haram, saying that, “if there are elders in the house, things don’t go bad.”

However, a reliable source close to most of the retired Army officers in the North, who is also a chieftain in one of the socio-political groups in the region told Daily Sun that the Generals preferred government to dialogue with the Boko Haram rather than confronting force for force. The source further said that elders in the North believed that government was playing politics with insecurity in the country instead of tackling the issue from the right direction to stop the carnage in the land.

“We expect government to call these boys to a round table and work on their state of mind and heart, believing that they can embrace peace if they are psychologically handled because you don’t confront violence with violence especially when the other party is even ready to commit suicide.” “If somebody you are going to fight starts killing himself before you get closer to him, who are you going to fight with again, so that is the situation,” the source said.
“As for the arrest of Senator Ali Ndume, the source said the security agencies should not rush into conclusion, but allows the court to follow due process and judicial procedure to get to the root of the matter, adding that the ex-spokesman of the Boko Haram, Ali Umar Konduga should be treated with care and avoid extra judicial application on him.”

It would be recalled that last week, the former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari spoke through his spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, saying that the arrest of Senator Ndume was a clear indication that the opposition political parties were not behind terror attacks in country.

NIGERIA IS FINISHED. WHY SHOULD FG DIALOGUE WITH THESE WICKED SET OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T VALUE LIFE AND PROPERTY. IT IS A SHAME THAT HUMAN BEINGS IN THE FRAME OF RETIRED MILITARY OFFICERS ARE MAKING THIS SUGGESTION.

THERE IS NO WHERE IN THE WORLD THAT TERRORISM IS TREATED WITH KID GLOVES.