Femi Adesina Releases New Statement ‘Amplifying’ his Comments on Negotiations with Boko Haram

Special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has amplified the comments he made during an interview on Friday with the BBC where he said that the federal government will negotiate with Boko Haram terrorists if they are willing to come to the table.

Adesina’s comments had led to lots of debates and rebuttals amongst Nigerians. So to set the record straight, this evening he released a fresh statement which he titled “amplification of comments on
negotiations with Boko Haram.”

In his new statement, the presidential spokesman averred that most wars no matter how vicious they went, “end around the negotiation table.” He said:

“Most wars, however furious or vicious, often end on the negotiation table. So, if Boko Haram opts for negotiation, the government will not be averse to it. 

Government will, however, not be negotiating from a position of weakness, but that of strength. The machinery put in place, and which will be set in motion soon, can only devastate and decapitate insurgency. 

It is multinational in nature, and relief is on the way for Nigeria and her neighbours. President Muhammadu Buhari is resolute. He has battled and won insurgency before. He is poised to win again. It is a promise he made to Nigerians, and he is a promise keeper. 

But I say again, if the insurgents want to negotiate, no decent government will be averse to such. Didn’t the Taliban and Americans also negotiate in Afghanistan?”