The Federal Government is committed to dialogue with Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram and this is according to the Chairman, South-South Peoples Democratic Party Forum, Lagos State, Mr. Sunday Ekanem.
Ekanem, who spoke at the inauguration of the forum’s board of trustees in Lagos on Tuesday, however, called on northern leaders and those advocating amnesty for the sect to prevail on its leaders to come out openly and tell Nigerians that they are ready for dialogue.
He said, “It is a pity that opposition parties with their agents masquerading as NGOs have decided to politicise every statement made by President Goodluck Jonathan. This was shown recently when he made a figurative statement that Boko Haram members are ghosts.
“Examining the statement, the President did not say the Federal Government is not ready for dialogue with the group. But that as long as its leaders and members are not known to Nigerians, it would be difficult to do so.
“What the northern leaders and those calling for amnesty for Boko Haram should concern themselves with now is to prevail on the leaders of the sect to come out openly and tell Nigerians that they are ready for dialogue.
“Let them see whether the Federal Government would not embrace dialogue”, he said.
There can be no peace without justice. As long as many law abiding Nigerians have been dispatched to the grave, and the perpetrators rather than being brought to justice, are being considered for amnesty, the only peace that can result from that is the peace of the grave yard.