Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo today said in Maiduguri that the Federal Government of Nigeria is “happy” with Cease fire stand adopted by members of the Boko Haram sect.
Sambo who was in Maiduguri on a- one – Day official visit said the Federal government has commence serious consultations that will ensure fruitful dialogue between the government and the sect.
” This is what Mr President has always wanted; dialogue, the importance of dialogue can never be over emphasised; even wars our resolve through dialogue” Sambo said.
Sambo told His Highness the Shehu of Borno Abubakar Garbai Elkanemi, that government of Nigeria recognises the truce as welcomed idea.
“We welcome the ceasefire offer announced recently by the Boko Haram group and we will do everything as a government to see that we achieve a lasting peace in Nigeria. That is why the Federal government is seriously consulting on the best approach to handle the ceasefire offer.”
He also noted that poverty which has been blamed as chief cause of the Boko Haram insurgency would soon be a thing of the past.
The Vice President who is visiting the state for the first time since he was elected along his boss President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 said he was in the state to commiserate with the people over the Boko Haram crises
He also condole with recent victims of flood disaster saying the government will soon work out measures to resettle them.
The VP revealed that the President would have visited the state if not for the office exigencies promising that with his visit ” the President will soon come to Borno to see things for himself.”
“My self and Mr President are very concerned about the happenings in Borno state and we will continue to do our best to protect lives and properties in this state. So people are trying to politicise our inability to visit Borno state, but it has nothing to do with politics but the fact there time for every thing and I think now is the best time.” Sambo said
The Streets of Maiduguri, the original base of the Boko Haram sect was however deserted as heavily armed soldiers forced residents to stay indoors while the Vice president visits the trouble city.
Most shops , houses as well as recreational centres were abruptly closed down with most weeding ceremonies either cancelled or had less than 10% of the expected guest present.
Some aggrieved residents of the state have also described as misleading claims by the Federal Government over discovery of Oil Block in MaIduguri and plans to commence drilling and exploration in between first quarter of 2013 or 2014.
The residents were responding to the statement made by the Vice President of , Mohammed Namadi Sabo who was in the state to commission state government projects.
Sambo had said ” three major oil blocks have been discover in Borno state with one of them locateted in Maiduguri Metropolis ”
But the people are of the opinion that the Vice President who had since abandoned the state was being economical with the truth pointing out that there is no discovery of Oil block but that of Kukawa local government about 180 Kilometres away from Maiduguri the state capital.
Meanwhile the VP commissioned some state government projects which Include Late Gen. Muhammed Shuwa Memorial Hospital, 144 Trucks and 4 drilling Rigs as well as Moduganari bye- pass amongst others.