Former President Olusegun Obasanjo insisted that a mere friendly approach cannot do any help to end insurgency in the country but a carrot and stick attack was the best option to adopt in dealing with the Boko Haram insurgency.
According to the former president, having tried the “stick” approach without achieving commensurate result, it was time to try other available options, more so, as President Goodluck Jonathan “is overwhelmed” by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Obasanjo, who spoke on a BBC programme, Focus on Africa, which aired a special edition on Nigeria’s insecurity last night, recalled that he took it upon himself in 2011 to go on a fact-finding mission when Boko Haram insurgency became uncontrollable to see how to mediate.
He said he met people, especially families who knew members of the sect.
“I wanted to find out if it was an organisation which has aims and objectives and if they have foreign backing”.
According to Obasanjo, Boko Haram has leaders, adding that there was someone, who acted as a lawyer to the sect.
“The lawyer, who was acting in proxy told me: ‘Mr President if you want to meet their leaders give me three hours. I will gather their leaders, not in Nigeria but outside Nigeria. Obviously, they have leaders”, he said.
When asked if carrot and stick approach would work in dealing with the insurgency, he responded, “Well, if you had tried stick and stick alone and it has not worked, is there anything wrong to try something along with the stick?
“I doubt it very much if you will consider that as wrong because in your introductory statement on this programme, you made the point that no matter how well-meaning the President might have been with his assertion that he will be on top of Boko Haram, it has not been achieved”.
Naija Telescope 