Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo Wednesday insisted on a carrot and stick approach to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said there could be no other means since President Goodluck Jonathan “is overwhelmed “by the Boko Haram (insurgency).”
Obasanjo spoke on a BBC programme, Focus on Africa, which aired a special edition on Nigeria’s insecurity last night.Obasanjo said 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 them. “I wanted to find out if it was an organisation which has aims and objectives and if they have foreign backing.”
Obasanjo said Boko Haram has leaders, adding that there was somebody 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,” Obasanjo said.
When asked if carrot and stick approach would work in dealing with Boko Haram, he said: “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.”
Human rights activist Shehu Sani said Boko Haram is a sect that has a theocratic agenda.
He said the sect is unlike others in the north, adding: “There are sects in the North that say Nigeria should adopt Islam but they are not as fundamental.”
Sani said force had not been able to yield any result.
He cautioned the Federal Government to get the girls out first before using force to subdue the sect.
According to him, Obasanjo has a list of the leaders of the sect.
