ISLAM AND BOKO HARAM: SULTAN OF SOKOTO VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY BY GODWIN ETAKIBEUB

THE most respected Sultan of Sokoto; His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, is also the President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. He fits into that office appropriately and deservingly too. The office of the Sultan of Sokoto, being the Head and ruler of the Caliphate, bestows on the occupant the privilege of “first among equals” within the world comity of Islamic brotherhood. When he speaks, the gods have spoken. And he is actually a “god” both to the Muslim community and Islamic matters, even beyond Nigeria. The Sultan is even larger than life if you add the reality of his military back-ground to the fact that before he ascended his ancestors’ throne, he was the Defence Attach? to Pakistan – a country loaded with terrorism. His recent declaration, that “terrorism has no place in Islam”, though coming belatedly, is worthy of clinical and comprehensive evaluation therefore. But first, we must give kudos to the vibrant prominent Northern Nigerian rights activist and author; Shehu Sani, for prompting the Sultan into speaking on the Boko Haram and Islam religion.

Shehu Sani: Jonathan is not ready to end Boko Haram insurgency

Calls for Release of Boko Haram Detainees in exchange for Chibok Giels

The president of the Civil Rights Congress, Shehu Sani, has described the steps outlined by the Federal Government as inconsistent and incapable of bringing the insurgents to the negotiation table. The statement is coming just 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan declared measures to end insurgency in the country.

The Civil rights Activist who had been involved in two previous attempts to negotiate for peace between the government and the insurgents, said the Federal Government had never been serious in finding a lasting solution to the rising surge of terrorism in the north.

According to him, Federal Government does not want to negotiate with the sect so as not to be seen as a weak government and surrendering to insurgents. He told newsmen yesterday that “it was the insincerity of the Federal Government to accept and implement the conditions previously given by the sect that had given rise to the attacks being launched by the group, saying that if the government had accepted the agreement brokered by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and himself with the sect members in Maiduguri, the problem of insurgency would not have escalated to its present deadly form.“

Again!!! Obj initiates another contact with Boko Haram to help #BringBackOurGirls

A former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has commenced efforts to reach out to the extremist Boko Haram sect, in a series of attempts at negotiating with the sect to free over 250 school girls it abducted more than a month ago from Chibok, in Borno State. A source close to the former leader said on Tuesday that Mr. Obasanjo has contacted a go-between, who assisted him in his unsuccessful attempt at mediating with the Boko Haram group in 2011.

The go-between, a lawyer, was led by a prominent civil rights activist, Shehu Sani, to meet with Mr. Obasanjo weekend in his Otta farm in an “exploratory” effort, our source said. Mr. Obasanjo’s 2011 attempt at negotiations with the deadly sect ended on a bloody note with the murder of Babakura Fugu, the man who received him and made effort to establish a link between Boko Haram and the former president.