Ex-Head of State, Abdulsalami, advocates dialogue with Boko Haram

FORMER Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), has stressed the need for dialogue between the Federal Government and Boko Haram insurgents, saying this was the only way of bringing peace and unity back to the country.
Abubakar said dialogue was imperative in the current situation to put an end to the blood-letting in the North-Eastern part of the country.
Abdusalami, who returned Nigeria to democratic rule in 1999 after serving as a military Head of State for about a year, also advised politicians across party lines to imbibe the culture of peace to prevent the country’s democracy from being aborted in the 2015 general elections.
The former military leader spoke in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, while commissioning the administrative block of the School of Nursing, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti built by Governor Kayode Fayemi.
He said: “As someone who was privileged to survive the Civil War and saw our country return to democracy, I am troubled by the challenges currently confronting our country.”
Abdusalami pointed out that the terror attacks have has debased the country’s integrity among the comity of nations, adding “never in history has our country been subjected to this kind of blood-letting and disrespect for the sanctity of human lives.
“There has been cruel murder and slaughtering of children as well as women, who are innocent.
“As events of recent killings clearly show that no one is safe, no place is safe and no time is safe, the security problem in the country is very severe and need all of us to search for solution to.
“We must therefore cooperate and all hands must be on deck to find solution to the crisis.
“We should not be looking for victory, solution should be the goal. Government at all levels, the people at the crisis zone, security personnel and all aggrieved parties must dialogue and listen to one another for the sake of our future and our children.
“We must honestly look at the real issues involved and take immediate actions promptly.
“It must be accepted that dialogue is still a veritable tool under this circumstance.”
The former military leader commended the Fayemi-led adminis-tration in undertaking the projects, saying it was a clear confirmation of the governor’s love for Ekiti people.
He stressed that Fayemi’s act of good governance, equity and justice can hold the promise of restoring the people’s faith in the country
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Kayode Fayemi said he undertook the project based on his determination to wipe out poverty and to ensure the well being of the people of the state.
He commended Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Dare Ogundipe, for the effective management of the hospital.