We’ll persuade Boko Haram to embrace peace –Buhari

FROM JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, ABUJA

President Muhammadu Buhari on Christmas day revealed his administra­tion’s readiness to put machinery in place to persuade the Islamic terrorists sect, Boko Haram to embrace peace.

The sect’s activities have left in its wake especially in the North East deaths, kidnappings, displaced persons, destroyed villages, com­munities since the death of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009.

Buhari made the disclosure at his first Christmas Day hosting of a del­egation of residents of the Federal Capital Territory, who paid homage in his official residence at the Presi­dential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, his administra­tion would use government institu­tions to persuade members of the sect to allow peace to reign.

He however did not disclose how his government would go about it or those that would be involved.

”On Boko Haram, this govern­ment is determined to make sure that we persuade them if they can be persuaded, we will use government institutions to persuade them to al­low peace to reign,” he said.

The President again used the oc­casion to urge Nigerians to come to­gether and pull the country out of the numerous challenges facing her.

Buhari said while everybody in the world believes that Nigeria is a lucky country because of its natural resources, the country’s problem re­mains how to organise its citizens and how to get the right leadership in place.

He recalled that from the analy­sis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during campaign, the party discovered that the country’s three biggest problems are security, un­employment of youths as well as bribery and corruption.

He noted that while the youths make up 65 per cent of the country’s population, the same percentage of youths are unemployed.

The president reiterated his posi­tion that there cannot be any devel­opment without security.

He said: “We appreciate that the security agencies are doing their best and their best is showing and we have to continue praying for them. There can be no development without security we have to continue to pray for them

“We have two million people who are IDPs and 70 per cent are women and children, some of them are or­phans; they grew up not knowing their parents, tradition or culture

“As leaders, we have a weighty responsibility to ensure that infra­structure for the orphans are taken care of.

“As leaders, we wake with the feeling for those children, the most important thing is that they must not be denied education. Schools must be rebuilt. We also thank Danjuma and the G7 led by the US. They have been doing their best to help Nigeria to train our military.”

Earlier, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammadu Bel­lo, who led the delegation consist­ing of Christian and Islamic leaders told the president that they were at the Presidential Villa to wish him a merry Christmas.

Bello observed that the celebra­tion of the birth of Jesus Christ com­ing a day after the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhhammed was a unique message to adherents of the two religions to live in peace.

He later presented a giant greeting card to the President.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was among the delega­tion in an interview with State House correspondents, urged Nigerians to learn to display the virtues of Jesus Christ in their daily endeavours.

Specifically, he called on citizens to always show love and display a high level of patriotism.

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