The Founder of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to choose a team to dialogue with members of the Boko Haram sect, saying that mediation must come soon to avoid more casualties.
“There must be people that the Boko Haram will listen to. These people are Nigerians and they can be reached– but it must be by people they can listen to,’’ he said.
According to the OPC leader, Nigeria is not short of personalities that the sect can trust enough to tell their grievances.
He said that the pattern of bombings the sect claimed it carried out– bombing mostly churches– cast doubt on the known grouse of the sect.
“If the Boko Haram is against Western Education, how come they do not go bombing schools?’’ he asked.
Fasehun stressed the need for security operatives to open up and let Nigerians know and understand the grouse of the sect.
He said that the situation might seem hard to tackle but difficult situations sometimes were resolved by simple solutions.
The sect, which claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day bombings, has also threatened further attacks on New Year eve.
Faseun lamented the lack of zeal by Nigerians to help tackle the insecurity across the nation.
“Nigerians are too timid. We watch thieves operate and simply run away. We see things we could report or come together to fight but look the other way,’’ he said.
He reiterated the calls for a meeting of Nigerian leaders from all parts of the country to find the way forward, before the nation collapsed.
On the planned removal of fuel subsidy and introduction of tolls on some roads, Faseun said that the effects would be dangerous to the nation.
According to him, the subsidy removal will be a great burden on the masses.