A former Nigerian diplomat, Dr. Nnamdi Onochie,  has urged the Federal Government to embrace a negotiated settlement option to to end the lingering Boko Haram insurgency.
He said this has become imperative since Nigeria expends about N1.2 trillion annually in fighting the protracted battle with the insurgents over the years and had no viable alternative to win the war.
He said embracing negotiation will save Nigeria about N1.2 trillion being spent annually to fight Boko Haram. “Is there any other viable alternative or can Nigeria continue fighting the war sine di?
Onochie, who queried if the Federal Government wanted to continue fighting the war indefinitely, gave the advice on Monday in Abuja while speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He noted that the sudden death of President Idris Deby of Chad, who was a key ally of France in the fight against jihadists in the Maghreb died in battle in southern Chad on April 19, throwing his nation into fresh political uncertainty. The ex-envoy contended that Deby’s death and the unfolding succession crisis in Chad would compound issues for Nigeria, in its bid to crush Boko Haram insurgents.
Nigeria has been fighting Boko Haram since 2009 in a bitter conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions in the war-wracked northeast.
“Now that President Derby has died, efforts to replace him between his son and the opposition will further aggravate the situation in Nigeria’s North East for all state and non-state actors. I advocate that Nigeria should negotiate an end to the activities of Boko Haram in the areas where the insurgency is active.’’
Onochie said embracing dialogue would stop “the endless bleeding’’ of Nigeria’s economy by the conflict. According to him, Nigeria should leave the intricate ethnic politics in Chad for leaders of that country to sort out, instead of getting involved in the complex politics of the impoverished country.
Onochie, a former Nigerian envoy to Algeria said he was familiar with the politics of Chad, having met the country’s former president, Hissan Habre, and having also been following Deby’s activities.
“It is in our best interest to end the war through negotiated strength. If I were the president or if I get elected as the next president of the federal republic of Nigeria in 2023, I will pursue and carry out a policy to end the war by negotiation. Is there any other viable alternative or can Nigeria continue fighting the war sine die? The answer is no”.
Chad, which gained independence from France in 1960, has known no peace for years, making the country one of the poorest in the world.
