News
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Monday, August 27, 2012
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
FG begins talks with Boko Haram CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
channels”. Hundreds of lives have been lost and valuable properties destroyed in a sustained bombings and gun battles by Boko Haram terrorists, particularly in the Northern parts of the country. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in an interview in Abuja said that Nigerians should not worry over the controversy on whether there is an ongoing dialogue between the Federal Government and the group, saying that even though the sect appears to have different factions, there is an ongoing dialogue. According to him, the dialogue is not face to face like some people would think. “Those who think government officials and members of the Boko Haram sect sit on opposite sides of a table miss the point in such a delicate issue.” The Presidential spokesman said that the Federal Government’s focus on tackling terrorism is through back room channels of reaching the members of the group and through multi-level, constructive interventions aimed at addressing “a difficult issue that is multifarious.” Abati explained that President Goodluck Jonathan needs support from Nigerians as he tackles the issue. “When government says it
is already talking to Boko Haram, the form of that dialogue must be properly understood. I think a lot of people are under the impression that the dialogue involves a situation whereby government officials are sitting on one side, Boko Haram persons are sitting on the other side in an air conditioned room and there are negotiations across the table. That is not the form of the dialogue. The form of the dialogue is that back room channels are being used to reach across with the sole objective of understanding what exactly the grievances of these persons are, what exactly can be done to resolve the crises in the overall best interest of ensuring peace and stability in Nigeria and the security of life and property. And all of this is consistent with the position of Mr. President. “So, what is called dialogue is at many levels: through back room channels and through multilevel, constructive interventions to address a difficult issue that is multifarious.” The sect had last week denied engaging in any talks with representatives of the Federal Government, stating that the earlier press statement confirming an ongoing dialogue by one Abu Muhammad, who claimed to be the secondin-command to the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, was not true. But Abati said: “One thing that is noteworthy
is that the Boko Haram spokesperson made it clear that they were prepared to go a step further to ensure that persons who are using the name of Boko Haram for political and criminal purposes are identified and checked. What that original statement indicated was that indeed Boko Haram has many faces. It confirms that this thing called Boko Haram is such a multifaceted phenomenon. “You will recall that in one instance, during a presidential media chat, President Jonathan had made it clear that the Boko Haram phenomenon, the terror phenomenon in Nigeria, is quite a novel phenomenon and that many of the persons involved in the low level insurgency are not known, they have not come forward. However, if such persons should come forward, government will grant them a listening ear to know what it is that they are after. Again, the President is on record as having made it clear that government’s approach to checking the Boko Haram insurgency is at many levels” “The available option, according to Mr. President, is not solely one of military action or police action and it is on the basis of this that he had reached out to leaders of political thought in the parts of the country that are affected. “It is on this basis that President Jonathan held a lot of meetings with politicians from the Northern
that there is a direct relationship between higher bank notes and devaluation, adding that the decision could also trigger expectations for wage increase in the country. Aremu said the CBN should concentrate on stabilising the national currency rather than pursue an unnecessary currency restructuring that would also see the introduction of N5, N10 and N20 coins. “We oppose the proposed introduction of higher banknote of N5,000 next year as announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria under its currency redesign programme tagged ‘Project Cure.’ “Incessant turning out of higher banknotes is an attempt to legitimise the devaluation of the Nigerian
currency. There is a direct relationship between higher banknotes and devaluation of the currency. “The CBN should concentrate on stabilising the value of the naira rather than legitimising the devaluation of the currency. CBN under Sanusi Lamido Sanusi should continue with the good work they are doing with respect to revival of manufacturing sector and management of inflation and interest rates. The double digit inflation rate as we currently have cannot take us out of the economic crisis,” he said. The TUC, also in a statement yesterday, signed by its President, Mr. Peter Esele, and Secretary General, Chief John Kolawole, condemned the proposal, describing it as inconsistent
states in order to find solution to the issue. “There is even a third level of intervention; the economic and social level of intervention. In this regard, President Jonathan has made it clear that many of the efforts being directed towards the affected parts
of the country are meant, in fact to redirect the energies of the youths and this is the whole point of using the agricultural sector to transform lives, to create wealth, to create a value chain, the end of which is to create jobs and to engage young people more effectively.
“Government is taking on the issue frontally and through back room channels, with the assistance of a number of persons who have an understanding of the sociology and the character of the problem and a lot has been achieved in this regard,” Abati said
Resident Coordinator, UN System in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure (right), at the laying of wreath during one-year remembrance of UN House bomb blast in Abuja, at the weekend.
United Nation Peace Keepers performing the solemn ceremony, during one year remembrance of UN house bomb blast in Abuja, at the weekend. PHOTOS: NAN
NLC, TUC, others fault currency restructuring plan AYO OLESIN, AYODELE OJO AND TOLA AKINMUTIMI
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he Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, have faulted the planned restructuring of the national currency by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, especially the introduction of the N5,000 note, saying the action would further devalue of the naira. They also described the move as a mark of policy inconsistencies by the apex bank. Vice President of the NLC and Secretary General of the Textile Workers Union, Comrade Issa Aremu, said in a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna
and a policy somersault by the apex bank. “Nigerians are again witnessing another round of the theatre of the absurd orchestrated by the CBN,” it said. The congress noted that the country had previously been treated to such “shows”, a situation it said, has confirmed the unfortunate characterisation of the CBN as an unserious and insensitive charity organisation run without recourse to statutes and due process. “The congress said earlier this year that the nation was inundated by media campaigns sponsored by the CBN on what it termed cashless economy with Lagos as the starting point. “Despite all the voices that were raised in opposi-
tion and seeking answers as to whether the CBN and other participating agencies including the Nigerian people were ready for such a project, they were drowned out in the din and sheer weight of the media campaign. “We are surprised that the CBN could at this time decide to embark on the mission to make changes to the nation’s currency and to also create a N5,000 denomination. The intention at coining the N5, N10 and N20 denominations does a psychological damage to the value of the naira. “We consider this a deep confirmation of our fears that those managing the different facets of our nation’s economy do not have time to give deep thought to their policies before churn-
ing them out and executing them. This decision shows a continued and persistent inconsistency in policy objectives within the CBN family, which makes it impossible for the nation to reap any benefit whatsoever if any from their previous policy decisions,” the TUC said. According to the congress, “If the objective is truly to pursuit a cashless economy, why would the CBN consider it expedient at this time to also pursue concurrently, the printing of more currencies especially the N5,000 note. “This clearly will put more cash readily into people’s hands with its attendant consequences that have been variously canvassed in the time past. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>