Controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has renewed his advocacy for dialogue with Boko Haram insurgents and armed bandits, arguing that Nigeria should consider adopting a strategy similar to the one used to end militancy in the Niger Delta.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Gumi said past engagements between top government officials and Niger Delta militants showed that negotiations could work alongside military operations in restoring peace.
He questioned why discussions with insurgents in the North are widely opposed despite the success of dialogue during the Niger Delta crisis.
While recalling previous peace efforts in the oil-producing region, Gumi cited former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as examples of leaders who reached out to militants before the implementation of broader peace initiatives.
“The former President Jonathan visited delta militants in the creeks, as did the former Vice-President Osinbajo. They all came up with a program to tame the militants,” he wrote.
He then posed a question regarding Nigeria’s prolonged security crisis in the North.
“Who is going to visit BH and Bandits to tame them without fools castigating them?” he asked.
The latest comments reinforce Gumi’s longstanding position that dialogue should complement military operations in addressing insecurity.
Over the years, he has consistently argued that negotiations could encourage fighters to surrender, reduce bloodshed and pave the way for lasting peace.
