Pulse Opinion: Why negotiating with Boko Haram will be Buhari's biggest mistake

Buhari also revealed, during an official visit to France, that the sect had asked for its explosives expert to be released in exchange for the abducted Chibok girls.

President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed that his administration is negotiating with Boko Haram.

 

Buhari also revealed, during an official visit to France, that the sect had asked for its explosives expert to be released in exchange for the abducted Chibok girls.

 

“They wanted us to release one of their leaders who is a strategic person in developing and making Improvised IEDs that is causing a lot of havoc in the country by blowing people in Churches, Mosques, market places, motor parks and other places,” Buhari said on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, while responding to questions from members of the Nigerian community in France.

 

However, whatever the reason, negotiating with Boko Haram could be the Nigerian president’s biggest mistake.

Most Nigerians who voted for Buhari did so because they saw him as a symbol of strength, a major departure from former president, Goodluck Jonathan who seemed largely unaware of the requirements of his office.

 

Buhari was elected because of his military history and his general no-nonsense nature.

 

Nigerians chose Buhari because they expect him to deal severely with Boko Haram which has claimed so many Nigerian lives and caused havoc to the nation while at the same time threatening its unity.

 

Boko Haram has become public enemy number one and does not deserve the amnesty that was given to the Niger Delta militants who were for the most part fighting a worthy cause.

 

Boko Haram does not have a cause and agreeing to any kind of deal with the sect would be tantamount to admitting weakness; weakness of the Nigerian nation and weakness of its president.

 

Succumbing to the sect’s demands at this crucial time will severely dent Buhari’s image and probably encourage other insurgencies to spring up.

 

This is apart from the many other dangers involved in reaching any agreement with the sect.

 

First of all, Boko Haram, from all appearances, has no current leadership structure.

 

Its leader, Abubakar Shekau has not been seen since March 2015 when the sect pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State so who exactly is the Nigerian government negotiating with?

 

Also if the purpose of the negotiation is to end all hostilities, why does Boko Haram want its bomb expert released?

 

Ahmad Salkida, a journalist with ties to Boko Haram, highlighted the danger of the proposed negotiation after Buhari’s revelation and urged the government to wipe out the sect instead of discussing.

"Why discuss when you can swiftly wipe them out? #Nigeria's unending #Chaos and contradictions,” Salkida said via Twitter on September 15.

 

“BH leaders are not eager to negotiate anything, they think it is much easier to go to 'paradise' in battle than by talking #WhoIsGenuineBH. BH is not independent now, it is a province, it will not negotiate without IS negotiating in Iraq/Syria as well. #WhoIsGenuineBH

 

There is no such thing like a lone bomb expert, dozens have the know-how & 100's are being trained daily on this. #WhoIsGenuineBH. BH see #ChibokGirls as a trophy they won't let them pass easily but your aids want the process to be like ABCD. #WhoIsGenuineBH,” he added.

 

Whatever the case may be, whether the negotiations are fake or real, it would be a step in the wrong direction for Mr President.

 

Buhari is at a very precarious stage in his administration, a stage where he can either win his people’s trust and admiration or wreck what little confidence has already been placed in him.

READ: Buhari gives service chiefs three months to defeat Boko Haram

A decision to negotiate with Boko Haram and give in to its demands will damage rather than help Buhari’s reputation and just might be the biggest mistake he will ever make.

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Watch Buhari speak on Boko Haram below: