Why We Should Negotiate With Boko Haram - El-Rufai

NVS PODCAST · Feb 28, 2012 , 02:13 AM

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in 'The Square' (Part 1)

Part 1: Why We Must Negotiate With Boko Haram - El-Rufai

Now What Podcasts : The NOW WHAT podcasts Series are initiated by a desire to chart a way forward for Nigeria following the January occupy protests, Boko Haram and other security challenges and the seeming slide to anarchy in Nigeria. Each week, members of the NVS forum will exchange ideas in a round-table and will also invite high profile guests to offer ideas

On Saturday February 25, 2012, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was our guest. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai spoke on Boko Haram, Sovereign National Conference, Security, and so much more in a very frank manner.

The following is transcript of the first part of the interview, with focus on Transformational Leadership, his support for Buhari and How to deal with the Boko Haram menace.

Click here to download Audio (mp3)Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (Part 1)

THE NASIR EL-RUFAI INTERVIEW

Introduction: Good-day everyone. My name is Anwuli Emenanjo in Toronto, Canada and I'll like to welcome you to another episode of the *Nigerian Village Square podcast series entitled ''Now What''.*

This week, we are pleased to have Mallam Nasir El Rufai as our special guest . Many of us are familiar with Mallam Rufai following his articles, facebook comments and tweets so no formal introduction *is really required but for the benefit of those that don't know him, Mallam Rufai was a former Director General of The Bureau of Public Enterprises, the head privatisation agency in Nigeria and also the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from 2003 to 2007. *He also served as an adviser in the transition government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Our co-hosts for today's show are Zainab Usman from the UK and Ajibola Robinson from West Virgina U.S.A.

We also have some of our forum members also known as villagers that have called in. we would be taking questions from them in the course of the show and also at the end in the Q&A segments with the audience.

Without further ado, I will hand over the Baton to Zainab to begin with the series of questions we have for you today...Zainab....

NEED FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

NVS: Hello everyone, its our pleasure to have you here with us today. I will be handling questions on transformational leadership and on Boko Haram. My first question is on transformational leadership.

In a recent article, I stated that the core north is in terminal decline due to lack of transformational leadership, economic decline and retardation of the region due to dependence on oil revenues, and a cultural mindset that is contributing to our retrogression in many aspects. What's your take on these?

El-Rufai: Zainab I found your article very inspiring and interesting. I agree with views you expressed in the article. I think the north has not beendoing very well in many ways, and the key issue, like most of Nigeria is the challenge of transformational leadership. I agree with you, I think I went out of my way to share your article because I think every Nigerian, indeed every northerner needs to read it. So I agree with you 100%.

The question is what do we do about it? How do we create a system that throws up new generation of leaders that are transformational rather than transactional? This is the challenge.

Do I have any answer? I don't, but I think that those of us that care about Nigeria and the north ought to put our heads together to continue that search, and I am in opposition to do more in that search. But there are no silver bullets, no quick answers. I agree with everything you wrote in your article.

NVS: thank you for your answer to that question, and this actually leads to my second question - As a speaker at a TEDx event in December 2009, you also stated there is a failure of leadership in Africa. SO it appears its across the continebt. Could you please elaborate on that?

El-Rufai: Yes yes, you know your article focused on the north and it's good, but I think the leadership deficit is throughout the country and the continent. Some countries are better than the others, Bostwana, Mauritius are better, some parts of Southern Africa, but generally we have problem of leadership in Africa and it's something that we all must put our heads together and try to find solutions to. In Niigeria's case, its very evident where we are now and where we are going. It clearly shows that we need transformational leadership. Clearly!

NVS: You just stated that you don't really have any answers to the leadership issue, but is there anything you think .............................
El-Rufai: In Nigeria, the country I'm most familiar with, I think the key to getting the right leaders in Nigeria is to have elections that matter. Now, part of the reason we have the type of leaders we have and the way they behave is because they know that we do not need to elect them, they will elect themselves, they will rig elections, they will bribe judges to remain in power. So they don't care what you think, they don't care what I think, they don't care to deliver on any promise or to perform. At every election cycle all they need to have is a load of money with which to bribe officials, bribe results and challenge you to go to the tribunal.
So the real thing that we should focus on in Nigeria, I think, is to get accountable election. We must get elections that matters. Once we have elections that matters, it will take time, but over a few election cycle we would throw out the bad leaders and hopefully elect the good ones. That is what I think is the long term solution. Do we have any short term solutions? I don't think so. We have these people, they are entrenched and they will do everything to protect their system of governance, and unless we all stand up and ensure that we have better elections, I think we are on our way to perdition.

NVS:*This also leads to my next question. You talk about elections as the key to solving our leadership problem. In the last election you had the opportunity to support either Nuhu Ribadu or Muhammadu Buhari and you supported the latter. A lot of peiople will like to know ..given that you have been an advocate of transformational leadership, some would argue that supporting a man who has been in various forms of power for over 30 year contradicts this stance. Could you shed more light on this?

El-Rufai: I decided to support General Muhamodu Buhari because I think that even though he has been around for the past 30 years, in the times he had to lead he was transformational ... when he was head of state between 1984 and 85, he moved Nigeria in the direction that I think if it has not been terminated we would have been a different country. So he was transformational as head of state, and in his other assignments as minister of petroleum under Obasanjo, and head of the Petroleum Trust Fund his leadership style was transformational rather than transactional. This is part of the reasons why I supported him, but on the whole, I looked at all the candidates out there, including my brother Nuhu Ribadu and I felt that Buhari was just more qualified to change the direction of the country at that point in time, and that's what I did. I don't think being around makes one less transformational, or being new makes one more transformational than others. I think you have to look at the track record of performance, and that's what I did.

HOW TO SOLVE THE BOKO HARAM PROBLEM

NVS: Thank you. Now I'm moving on to the next section which is on Boko Haram. Obviously a lot has been happening in Nigeria. What is your take on the current state of insecurity in Nigeria, especially in the North?

El-Rufai: Well, it is very sad. I think the situation and the general security situation in Nigeria is terrible. And it all has to do in the short term, with the incompetence of the government to deliver on security. But I think the problem is something that has been in the north for a while, joblessness, poverty and the fact that the 19 northern governors has not been investing enough in human development.

This has built up for a long time, but in the last 12 years I think we have had the most clear case of lost opportunity. Because the norther state governors have received a lot of money but they have not invested enough in education, health care, and the environment that will create opportunity and work for our people, and I think that some of these outbursts of violence are related to this lack of opportunity.

The problem is more pronounced in the north obviously, but it's all over the country. You have area boys in the South west; you have kidnappers and militants in the South east and the South south respectively. All these arise due to deficit of opportunities and hope, and I think that unless as a country and as a region in the north we address this issue, they are going to manifest in many ways. You cannot have security when you have hopelessness in the society, and this is the challenge that we face as a country and the northern region

NVS: Alright, thank you. My next question is that there are lots of concerns in the South that Northern Hausa/Fulani leaders are not doing enough to speak out and condemn the activities of Boko Haram, what would you say to that?

El-Rufai: I think that is an unfair assessment. I don't think people in the south are listening. I think every notable leader in the north, from the Sultan of Sokoto, the governors to many leading politicians, have condemned the activity of Boko Haram and has shown that what they are doing has nothing to do with Islam. But beyond that what is anyone expected to do? It is not the condemnation of Boko Haram that will solve the problem. It is government using it's resources and intelligence to solve the problem.

Part of the reason you have all these issues is because we have a government that chooses to blame rather than solve problems. I think it is unfair to say that northern leaders have not condemn Boko Haram, they have, but they didn't get the media attention, it is only when Boko Haram strike that get media attention. And in that way I think some of the distorted media attention is actually encouraging the activities of Boko Haram, rather than the other way round. I think it's unfair, which northern leader has not condemn Boko Haram? I don't know, they should name names, but that is not the main issue.

The main issue for the government to solve the problem, because security is in the hands of the government, it's not in the hands of northern political leaders or traditional rulers or anyone.

NVS: Thank you for that very interesting point. What short and long-term solutions do you think can be implemented to solve the security question in Nigeria?

El-Rufai: Well, you know, I think in the short term government should do what it should do in the area of security, get better intelligence, be more proactive to prevent attacks rather than issue dry statements after the deed has happened. Intelligence is the key. How do you get good intelligence? By ensuring that you win the hearts and minds of the communities in which this terrorists and other criminals operate, there's no other way of getting intelligence.

You do not get intelligence by asking Soldiers to go and kill everyone in the community. You get the intelligence by winning the hearts and minds of people in the community and I think in that regards, the Nigerian military has messed up and its the reason why we are where we are, the government has messed up by unleashing the military on communities that are innocent, and killing more people than even Boko Haram has been killing. But they are using Boko Haram here as an example, but it's the problems all over the country, whether it's the kidnappers, the militants and so on and so forth.

So that is why in the short term I think we need better intelligence. The government needs to re-think it's strategy because the strategy of over militarization has not worked. That is one.

Secondly, the government must work with community leaders to try to get to the root of this problem, and the government should not think it has all the answers, it should be willing to listen to the communities to try to solve this problem. In June last year the Borno elders came and saw president Jonathan and advise him to withdraw the military and work with them to try to get to the root of the Boko Haram problem. He didn't even consider the advise, he rejected it outright and said he prefers the military option. Well, we are now in February, within last year, 9 months has passed, things has gone from bad to worse because the government has not listened to the community leaders. The community leaders have some solution, they have some answers and they should be listened to.

That's in the short term, now in the medium term and long term, the root of the terrorism; the root of hopelessness must be addressed. So the government should create the opportunity for restoring hope in people by more investments in education, in health care and employment opportunities. That will definitely solve the problem in the long term. The current level of poverty and inequality in our society are the roots of these problems and unless they are attacked in a sustained long term manner we will continue to have this kind of outbreak of violence in many different ways. These I think are the short and medium term approach to the problem.

NVS: You have actually answered the next question I was going to ask you, about the recent meeting of the Vice President and the 19 northern governors where they agree or resolved to go back to the "old traditional ways of gathering information and intelligence" in orther to defeat Boko Haram. I guess you have already answered that. It's something you actually recommended right now.

El-Rufai: When you're trying to gather intelligence, you have to rely on traditional institutions, formal institutions, beer parlours etc and this is the way it should be done. And thats what security agencies should be used for and not for .....

But having said that, *I think the 19 northern governors ought to understand that in many ways they are the root of this problem. Because they are not investing in education and health care and employment opportunities for the people that's why some of these problems are breaking *out and thinking they could use the traditional rulers to get intelligence is scratching the surface, they should do the right thing. They should deliver good governance, that is the way some of these problems could be solve, just as an addition.

NVS: Ok, thank you for that. So with the growing tensions in the North between Muslims and non-Muslims, what is your take on the perception that *some sections of the core north, have refused to allow non-Muslims and non-northerners to exist in peace? How can this issue be resolved?

El-Rufai: I think that the contention that there is tension between Muslims and non-Muslims in the north, I think is exaggerated. Yes there are tension in some states of the north, but during the fuel subsidy protest, we saw videos of Muslims protecting Christians in their churches and Christians protecting Muslims as they were praying. So I think that to some extent the fuel subsidy protest has bridged the gap between Islam and Christianity in many part of the north particularly in Kano, Kaduna and some of the hot spots. *So I'm not sure that is the big issue on the table right now.

But having said that, even assuming that there are tension, I do not agree that non-Muslims are not being allowed to live in peace. You know in every society you have defiant, you have strange groups that do all kinds of things that are wrong, but that does not mean that the majority of the people share that view. Book Haram is a defiant group, they are doing things that most Muslims do not agree with.

Northerners, whether Muslims, do not agree with their doctrine, but they are doing it anyway. But to take the conduct of Boko Haram and label all northerners oall Muslims as Boko Haram I think is unfortunate which we must stop as a country. I do not think that this issues are beyond resolution, and I think that Muslims and Christians, especially in the north and in fact all over Nigeria are living in peace. But you have a few cases of defiance and those that wants to cause division., and it is up to all of us as Christians and Msulims, as enjoined by the bible and the Koran, to come together and say no to all of these..

NVS: So, how do you react to the news that CBN donated N100 million to the Kano State Government for onward delivery to victims of the recent Boko-Haram bomb attacks in the state? A lot of people want to know why he chose Kano and not other states where there have been victims of Boko Haram as well. Who is the money meant for and why the lopsided donation. What's your own opinion?

El-Rufai: Well, do you know I don't have a clear opinion on this because I have not spoken to the governor of the Central Bank to know the rationale for their decision. But I know that the Central Bank does many such donations as part of their corporate social responsibility.

They have donated hundreds of millions to universities to set up doctoral chairs and they do not explain why they choose one university over another. They have not donated to Ahmadu Bello which is the university I and Sanusi Lamido attended, but they have donated to University of Nigeria Nnsuka, for instance.

So the motive behind their decision to donate to Kano instead of another, I'm sure, Sanusi will be able to explain because I know he is one of the most logical human beings I have come upon, and I've known him since we were both 15 years of age. So I think Sanusi will have a rational explanation for it, and if you look at the Central Bank website and see the partern of their social responsibilities and donations, perhaps something will strike you as they pick and choose where they donate. But I have not spoken to Lamido Sanusi tio understand the reason behind it.

NVS: Thank you. The next question is that Some of your tweets seem to suggest that *govt should dialogue with Boko Haram despite its belligerent stance towards non-Muslims and its increasingly deadly attacks. *How would you respond to suggestions from some quarters for government not to engage in any form of dialogue with Boko Haram?"

El-Rufai: I think that those that are saying that you should not dialogue with Boko Haram are not being rational, honestly. Because today, America's been in Afghanistan for 11 years. They've kicked out the Talliban, they are still fighting the Talliban, but they are willing to discuss with the Talliban.

America went to Iraq, spent 1 trillion dollars, left without solving all the problem. You cannot defeat an insurgence with military force alone. You should combine military force with political discussion. Those that are saying we should not dialogue with Boko Haram don't get it. Look around you, you will see that the countries that say you should not negotiate with terrorists are also talking to what they called terrorists.

The British fought with the IRA for many many years, but they open channels of communication to talk to them. This is the only way to defeat insurgency.

So I think, based on the situation that we are as a country, the government should find channels to communicate and talk to Boko Haram and try to find out what is their real grudge, why are they doing what they are doing, and see which of their demands can be accommodated, because we all know what happened.

The police killed their leader extra-judicially, so they have foundation for them to feel aggrieved. And since those that killed their leader have not been brought to justice, Boko Haram has a reason to feel aggrieved against the government. So the government should talk to them and find out if there's away this issue can be settled without further loss of lives and property.

I support the need to discuss with them, I do not think those that are saying don't discuss with Boko Haram, crush them, know what they are talking about because they have not looked around the world to see how similar situations are being handled. And I refer them to Afghanistan, to the UK as well as Iraq.

NVS: My last question on this section is that Lamido Sanusi recently linked Boko Haram activities with revenue allocation and derivation, that is the ''inequitable'' distribution of revenue with the oil producing states in the Niger Delta getting 13 percent was responsible for Boko Haram activites. Do you agree with this view?

El-Rufai: That is not what Sanusi said exactly. I tried to follow up this story very carefully because I sit on the Thisday editorial board. It was Thisday that first published the story that Sanusi linked derivation to Boko Haram and they took the story from the Financial Times and when I read the original story in the Financial Times, I didn't find Sanusi saying that. What Lamido Sanusi said which is economics prism- anyone that studies political economy *know is true is that *inequality and poverty leads to violence in any society and the reason why societies have social safety net is because they want to avoid that. It is an established fact the political economy all over the world. When you have inequality of income and poverty, you have violence. This is what Sanusi said to Financial Times but many Nigerian newspapers took this and recast this to say that he has linked Boko Haram to derivation.

Having said that, I believe as I indicated that when you have serious income inequality you have all these problems. So they should be addressed. I don't think that derivation alone is the problem. I think the problem of Nigeria is bad governance. Because even though the Niger delta states are getting 3, 4 times the average Nigerian.....per capital in income, I think apart from a couple of them, they are not using their resources well. So you have the same kind of hopelessness that led to militancy, and the kind of hopelessness that may have encouraged Boko Haram and other insurgents all over the country, also in the Niger delta.

My concern really, when the money being given out under the amnesty program gets finished, this ex-militants will become new militants because they are used to getting free cash and where would they find jobs that would give them as much money. So it's something that's quite tricky, it's something that we need to think through how to manage. But I believe that a fairer more equitable distribution of income in any society and addressing poverty issue and giving people hope is the solution to the problem of violence and terrorism and so no and so forth, in the long term.

*

NVS: We are now mid-way in the podcast and we will be taking some audience questions but before I move on to that, I will like for you to go back to talk more or elaborate more about dialogue with Boko Haram. *Goodluck Jonathan has already reached out and tried to talk to Boko Haram when he appeared on BBC and Al-Jazeera and their answer to his request for dialogue was that they are not interested in anything; that that they want him to become a Muslim, you know...actually dialogue was not a success. Boko Haram was already violent and the Government has tried to talk to them. So, when you talk in terms of Dialogue. What would you like to see happen that is not happening?

El-Rufai - Look.. First, I think you are wrong. Boko Haram did not become violent until the June 2009 operations. The truth of that matter was that it was the Borno State Government that killed their followers when they went to bury them after being involved in a motorcycle accident and that's a fact. That was the beginning of Boko Haram going violent. They were not violent before, they were a fringe group, they were doing their own thing, everyone ignored them until the Government attacked them and then unleashed the military on them in June 2009 *when their leaders were extra-judicially killed. So it is not true that they were violent to start with - as far as I know.

Secondly, I feel that at this point in time there's complete breakdown of trust between the communitie in which Boko Haram operates, the Boko Haram leadership and the government, and for any meaningful dialogue to begin, I think you need to get community leaders that Boko Haram will trust to act as interlocutor and intermediaries between the Government and them. I think if they see people, if they see credible leaders that can assure them that the Government will fulfil its own promises to them. I think dialogue is possible. I honestly think so.

I do not think that the stories about Boko Haram saying that they want everyone to become a Muslim are completely true. They know that in the North, there's nothing like 100% sharia in every state of the North. Even in the States where Sharia was applied, it was not applied to non-Muslim. This is how we have always lived and they know that.

They may make that as a demand just by way of brinkmanship, but I believe we are at point where if you get credible leaders, and I can mention some names - if you can get people like Gene Yakubu Gowon, Shettimu Ali Monguno, Gen Mohammadu Shuwa, General Muhammadu Buhari - *people like that that everyone respects and they know they are not on the payroll of any government to lead any effort to negotiate with BH and the government, I think it is possible to open a channel and that's what I recommend very strongly.
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END OF PART 1 - TO BE CONTINUED

END OF PART 1 - TO BE CONTINUED

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**denker** · Feb 28, 2012 , 11:41 AM

i gotta express ma great gratitude and appreciation for dos guys behind the scene for the great task accomplished puttting dis interview in words and writings...really a great job. i tried to do the job even with the best transcription software(LINK!) available on the market it failed woefully...whoever is/are behind dis task well accomplished i really thank you...indeed!

**Chinedu Nwobu** · Feb 28, 2012 , 05:38 PM

El Rufai is at it again, comparing apples and oranges and demonstrating the unrivalled hypocrisy and double standards of northern leaders. This same El rufai and his group of northern leaders advocating negotiations with terrorist mass murderers like boko haram are at the same time refusing a civil national dialogue of ethnic nationalities (SNC) to discuss how to create a more effective, productive,progressive and harmonious federal structure. How can this be reconciled?

Here he is comparing the IRA who were engaged in a legitimate struggle of self determination from british colonialism, the Taliban and Iraqi fighters engaged in a legitimate battle against forces that invaded their country to terrorist and anarchist mass murderers like boko haram who just go about killing people without any reason. This is a back door for justifying acts of mass murder.

I wonder why the government has to discuss with boko haram first to find out the "real reason" why they are engaged in acts of mass murder?
.
This proves that boko haram lacks any reason why they are doing what they do, because any legitimate group or their supporters engaged in a just cause would themselves be propagating it very loudly.

In boko haram's case, because there are really no reasons, northern leaders like el rufai have resorted to telling us "the real reasons will only be known when government negotiates with them.

Who is fooling who here?

If the government must negotiate with terrorist criminals like boko haram then the government should as well negotiate with all criminal elements in nigeria and infact realease all prisoners and also negotiate with them.

The social, economic and political injustices in nigeria were fostered by decades of northern rule under a unitary system that denied the federating units autonomy and development.

So if all aggrieved peoples who have for decades been marginalised and denied their fundamental right to indigenous autonomy and to develop at their own pace, resort to acts of mass murder, will anyone be left in nigeria?

Another lie is the poverty story bandied by people like rufai. boko haram unlike other vices is not a crime of poverty for a poor man seeking to advance himself through illegal activities will not strap suicide bombs to kill himself.

Boko haram like Al qaeda is driven by religious ideologies and that is why they commit suicide in advancing their beleif. To say that a man who willingly and knowingly commits suicide under a religious doctrine is acting out of poverty is the greatest lie of the century.

It is a problem created by northern leaders whose consequences they must reap.

Instead of trying to hold the nation hostage and using a group of mass murderers for political aims el rufai and other advocates of boko haram should just carry their region and seccede from nigeria.It is the most simple and practical option .

**katampe** · Feb 28, 2012 , 06:37 PM

@ Chinedu Nwobu,

I thought I heard somewhere where he mentioned he was not against civil national dialogue. I can't remember whether he made a distinction between SNC and national conference, or whether the guy that asked him the question chose not to use the word sovereign. I am hoping some other commenter would help with some clarification. That is that.

On the issue about negotiation, I think it might be a better approach. My reason for this is because it is less costly in terms of human life, even though it might be on a shaky moral principle. I am not sure we can go the way of Odi like Femi Fani-Kayode advocated without the approach consuming the nation. We have already seen the backlash that the use of force has caused in terms of the Frankenstein monster we now have to deal with.

Jonathan does not have time on his hands to be fighting an insurrection that would likely consume the resources of the state. There are many other problems in the nation and they need to be solved in terms of priority. Promoting an armed conflict situation is not what I think we need right now. It is about time we showed some rationality on this matter.

Nevertheless, Jonathan now has the opportunity to push for the restructuring of the federation on a long term principle. In the short term, the federal government has to show massive presence in a constructive way, and in the manner that reinforces the supremacy of the Nigerian state through many methods that should include enlightenment.

Originally Posted by Chinedu Nwobu

El Rufai is at it again, comparing apples and oranges and demonstrating the unrivalled hypocrisy and double standards of northern leaders. This same El rufai and his group of northern leaders advocating negotiations with terrorist mass murderers like boko haram are at the same time refusing a civil national dialogue of ethnic nationalities (SNC) to discuss how to create a more effective, productive,progressive and harmonious federal structure. How can this be reconciled?
.

**Chinedu Nwobu** · Feb 28, 2012 , 06:41 PM

In light of the mischief by northern hypocrites like el rufai in attempting to justify a group of terrorists like boko haram engaged in heinous crimes such as the mass murder of thousands of innocents, it is important to set the records straight.

For the avoidance of doubt, the acts of mass murder in the north started specifically in 1945 and then in 1953 before subsequently evolving to what we have today. Notably, from 1945, the acts of mass murder were carefully sponsored and organized by northern leaders themselves as a political tool.

The major contention in those early riots sponsored by northern leaders was their opposition to nationalist southern leaders who were agitating for independence from the british colonialists. Thus for fighting for independence from colonialists, northern leaders were unconscionable enough to sponsor attacks on people from the tribes of the southern pro-independence nationalists.

So when people like el rufai try to rationalise boko haram, an ofshoot and frankeinstein of mass killings created by northern leaders themselves since 1945 we need to call him to order.

Find links below:

http://www.jstor.org/pss/159448

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kano_riot_of_1953

**Enyi** · Feb 28, 2012 , 06:52 PM

@ElRufai

I do not think that the stories about Boko Haram saying that they want everyone to become a Muslim are completely true. They I do not think that the stories about Boko Haram saying that they want everyone to become a Muslim are completely true. They know that in the North, there's nothing like 100% sharia in every state of the North. Even in the States where Sharia was applied, it was not applied to non-Muslim. This is how we have always lived and they know that. Even in the States where Sharia was applied, it was not applied to non-Muslim. This is how we have always lived and they know that.

What a pity that many do not believe you! Keep on trying! May be that in the distant future your determined efforts to call a donkey a monkey may yield dividends. As of now, many people are mourning their losses. If we accept your assertion about BH not wanting every Nigerian to become a Muslim, then the spokesman of BH must be telling lies.
Yes, you are right when you say that they "know that in the North, there's nothing like 100% sharia in every state of the North". This is actually part of their grouse. They do not accept the half-hearted application of Sharia which was a ploy to cheat the people. This explains why your theiving governors do not want to be tried under Sharia. This explains why the poor have their hands cut off for stealing fowls and goats while the rich are not even tried for stealing billions.
You further claim-"Even in the States where Sharia was applied, it was not applied to non-Muslim." This either a huge joke or a lie told with impunity. Do some states not ban sales of alcohol, destroy kiosks selling alcohol and ensure separation of genders in public transports? Dont you think that in these aspects you have applied Sharia to non-Muslims?

**Chinedu Nwobu** · Feb 28, 2012 , 06:56 PM

@katampe:

negotiating with mass murderers like boko haram will encourage the north to always hold the nation hostage and encourage other groups to take up arms. It will also mean that the nigerian government will also have to release all prisoners and negotiate with all criminal elements in nigeria.

Besides i doubt that even negotiations can stop a religious fundamentalist phenomenom that started in the north since 1945 and has now evolved. All of us have grown up living with the spectre of routine sectarian killings in the north even for a cartoon published in farway denmark by a white man that has nothing to do with nigeria, yet fellow nigerians were slaughtered in cold blood for this incident..

Even if boko haram by any miracle stops its killing spree another group of fundamentalist mass murderers will emerge in no time.

Southern sudan separated from the north because of the same religious wahala.The solution is simple, the sharia north should seccede from nigeria, if they refuse they should be forced out.

**katampe** · Feb 28, 2012 , 07:13 PM

If we can't stop religious fundamentalism, can we isolate it?

If we decide to brutally stamp it out, do we have the resources?

Is Boko Haram the north, or the ideas that certain elements hold in the north?

Do we really need to clearly define the face of terror,or just use labels to blanket the face of terror?

If we do what is the face of terror?

Is the ideology that rears its head in the face of terror found within an ethnicity, or within a class system, or a geographic space?

These are the questions that come to my mind when we evoke the labels of mass murderers. Although the label is appropriate, it still obscures the political motivation that started it, and the monster it has created in its place.

As stupid, as this may seem, the folks in other parts of the country that want a genuine federation, and a progressive society have been given an opportunity and a reason to faithfully sort through some of these questions in order to demand for a restructuring around socioeconomic and cultural differences .

Sometimes, I think I read some doubts amongst southerners about our ability to handle the situation. I am not sure why.

Originally Posted by Chinedu Nwobu

@katampe:

negotiating with mass murderers like boko haram will encourage the north to always hold the nation hostage and encourage other groups to take up arms. It will also mean that the nigerian government will also have to release all prisoners and negotiate with all criminal elements in nigeria.

Besides i doubt that even negotiations can stop a religious fundamentalist phenomenom that started in the north since 1945 and has now evolved. All of us have grown up living with the spectre of routine sectarian killings in the north even for a cartoon published in farway denmark by a white man that has nothing to do with nigeria, yet fellow nigerians were slaughtered in cold blood for this incident..

Even if boko haram by any miracle stops its killing spree another group of fundamentalist mass murderers will emerge in no time.

Southern sudan separated from the north because of the same religious wahala.The solution is simple, the sharia north should seccede from nigeria, if they refuse they should be forced out.

**EezeeBee** · Feb 28, 2012 , 08:15 PM

When he facilely tried to compare the IRA to Boko Haram, he lost all sense of rationale. If Boko Haram was trying to 'extricate' the north from the 'oppressive Nigerian state', I suspect few would object.

At a different point in the interview, he kept speaking about 'equality of income' but conveniently refrained from addressing equality of devastation and despoliation that occurs in the areas that suffer from the exploitation of oil and gas resources.

**Igboamaeze** · Feb 28, 2012 , 08:36 PM

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And what does "equality of income" mean to start with? Does it mean that El Rufai owns over 10% of Abuja landed property or that his daily income is more than the combined annual earnings of 10,000 Igboamaezes? And why talk about equality of income in a capitalist country and age? If he meant disparity in revenue sharing, then he must know that Kano State alone receives more allocation from the Federation Account than the five South Eastern states combined. If such criminal inequality is a justification for throwing bombs then we in the South East should be the ones bombing them. I told you guys that the midget, like Sanusi Lamido, has a way of making nonsense appear sensible.

Perhaps, that's what makes him intelligent...

**Bode Eluyera** · Feb 29, 2012 , 03:30 AM

GET RID OF THESE PARASITES NOW!!! WE CAN NEVER GET BANY WHERE WITH THEM!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

The only solution to Boko Haram and other problems originating from the North is to get rid of the North for good. How long will we allow these ingrates, lazy bones and terrorists to continue holding us to ransome. The North can never change. We have wasted billions of dollars into that bottomles pit called Northern Nigeria. And all we got in return are bombs and threats. They are nothing but parasites, liability and a very big burden on the South. Enough is enough! Let Nuhu Ribadu, El-Rufai or Sanusi contest among themselves for the president.

YOU ARE FREE TO REPUBLISH THIS POST ON YOUR BLOG, SOCIAL WEB SITES AND SEND IT TO FEMI FALANA,WOLE SOYINKA, BOLA TINUBU,RAUF AREGBESOLA,BABATUNDE FASHOLA,MUHAMMAD FAWEHINMI,FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, POLITICIANS, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, E.T.C. . THANK YOU

**Big-K** · Feb 29, 2012 , 09:25 PM

Some really good reflective feedback on Zainab's blog.
http://zainabusman.wordpress.com/201...of-the-nation/

Hope other villagers will equally share these series widely.

**CIkpatt** · Feb 29, 2012 , 11:31 PM

The police killed their leader extra-judicially, so they have foundation for them to feel aggrieved. And since those that killed their leader have not been brought to justice, Boko Haram has a reason to feel aggrieved against the government. So the government should talk to them and find out if there's away this issue can be settled without further loss of lives and property.

I support the need to discuss with them, I do not think those that are saying don't discuss with Boko Haram, crush them, know what they are talking about because they have not looked around the world to see how similar situations are being handled. And I refer them to Afghanistan, to the UK as well as Iraq. - Nasiru El-Rufai

I am troubled reading this from El-Rufai. Not only is his interview very shallow, above quote has completely blotted out any little respect I struggled to have for the man.

How on earth can a former Minister of the Federal Republic justify Boko Haram's terror, giving the extra-judicial killing of that sect's leader as an excuse? Should El-Rufai encourage criminal/terrorist action by a fringe group because a crime had been committed against the Borno State and against the terrorist group?

Am I the only one noticing El-Rufai's gross irresponsibility and rank cowardice? Should Ndigbo rise in retaliation to kill those who slaughtered their sons and daughters? Should Niger Deltans retaliate the wickedly barbaric hanging of Ken Saro Wiwa by a Northern leader whose murderous rule El-Rufai is likely to defend before conceding an argument that is in favor of any Southerner?

It is troubling; it is irresponsible of El-Rufai to encourage terrorism and come to NVS to talk about it. This is not the kind of interview NVS should be virally circulating, using a misleading caption instead of calling El-Rufai out as a dangerous brat whose rabid philosophies must be rebuked. I wish he refrains from irresponsible statements before tearing apart the country.

Isn't it rank hypocrisy for El-Rufai to encourage Boko Haram in one breadth but call for respected Nigerians to mediate in another? Why can't he, as a notable (read notorious) Northern leader and elite, take up the responsibility to talk Boko Haram out of unleashing maximum terrorism?

**anwulika** · Mar 8, 2012 , 09:52 AM

Who are they calling American News outlet???

Boko Haram Tears Elrufai and Fani-Kayode Apart!

It started like a joke. After being so close to each other during the hey day of the Obasanjo administration, the relationship between Malam Nasir Elrufai, the controversial former minister of the FCT and Femi Fani-Kayode, the equally controversial former minister of aviation has reached the stage of a cold war.

Both men are now fighting a proxy battle over Boko Haram. While Malam Nasir Elrufai believes that the Federal Government should dialogue with the Islamic terrorist sect that has been responsible for thousands of death, Femi-Fani Kayode believes that the Federal Government should not dialogue with terrorist.

But last week, Malam Elrufai gave an interview to an American news outlet where he lampooned an unnamed Nigerian who is actually Femi Fani- Kayde. Not known for pulling punches, Femi Fani-Kayode responded by hitting Malam Elrufai without mentioning his name. And before he gave the interview to the American media outlet, Elrufai had said the same thing on twitter (images below)

As it is now, it appears that the trouble in paradise has caused a rift between the two hitherto bosom friends.

{Click on FB comments for clearer view}

This is even as few weeks back, the contoversial former Minister, Chief Femi Fani-kayode blasted Mallam El-Rufai as one having Amnesia based on the Mallam's misleading view on the dresscode of the Boko Haram Sect.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/boko...i-kayode-apart

Nawa for news reporting where they don't cite their source

and for incredible sensationalism. Make we dey look...