Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), has called on the Federal Government to exploit the option of dialogue with members of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, in order to arrest the prevailing drift in the nation’s security.
The gap-toothed general made this stance known while commiserating with the Emir of Kano, Dr. Ado Bayero, over last weekend’s attack on his convoy which left no fewer than four persons dead.
According to Babangida, “The use of force has proven to be inadequate and ineffective to checkmate this ugly trend. We must, therefore, put hands together to find a more rewarding and meaningful end to this security concern. Dialogue is my number one preference in this regard. Government must also encourage positive discourses among its political appointees delivered with respect and rendered in temperate language to soothe the mood of the nation.
“Language of force will not help us in our strong determination to address this insecurity problem. We must engage ourselves constructively and in a manner that puts the interest of the country far and above other partisan consideration.”
