Obasanjo Advocates Alternative, Peaceful Way To Free Chibok Girls

More details on the closed-door meeting between an ex President Olusegun Obasanjo, some Islamic clerics and negotiators with Boko Haram have been revealed.

OBJ welcomed Boko Haram expert Comrade Shehu Sani, the lawyer of slain leader of the sect Mohammed Yusuf, Alhaji Mustapha Zanna, and others in Abeokuta, the capital of his home state, Ogun, over the weekend.

Those at the meeting have principally agreed on five steps on how to get over 200 kidnapped GGSS Chibok female students released without violence. They have also expressed hope that the following plan would be acceptable for Jonathan’s Administration:


1) build trust between the Federal Government and Boko Haram emissaries;

2) convince the sect to release the captured students as a precondition. The demand to release the jailed sect members may be fulfilled only after it;

3) explore the options on how Boko Haram could be engaged;

4) arrange handing the girls over to some trusted Islamic clerics, involved in the process;

5) ensure immunity for Boko Haram representatives during meetings with OBJ, other officials and civil servants.

The former president has reportedly emphasised that this was the alternative way on how to solve abduction crisis. In case President Goodluck Jonathan does not give him a clearance to proceed with the talks, OBJ would quit the mission.

The attendees agreed that the girls should be freed as soon as possible, not only because of their physical sufferings, but due to mental issues as well. The fear that the girls would be brainwashed deepens.

It would be noted that in a separate interview after the meeting Comrade Sani declared that the only way to get the girls back safe is ‘swapping’. He feared that government’s unwillingness to embrace the dialogue may result in tragic circumstances.

The only Nigerian journalist who openly admits having contacts with the dreaded sect, Ahmad Salkida, has also warned the presidency against using force. Ahmad has allegedly forwarded some more video proof, indicating that Boko Haram takes care of the girls, to President Jonathan directly.