Nigerian businessmen and other investors have sent a delegation to Chad to negotiate with Boko Haram to put an end to the insurgency that has led to the death of over 13,000 Nigerians and depleted the economy of the country.
This was disclosed yesterday in Lagos by the former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, who said that the President of Chad, Idris Deby, representatives from Cameroun, Niger and the former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu-Sheriff, are in intense negotiation to end the insurgency in the country.
The negotiation was initiated when President Goodluck Jonathan visited Chad last week and Kalu expressed hope that the insurgency would soon come to an end, adding that businessmen in Nigeria and other affected countries know that without ending the insurgency, their businesses would suffer and Nigeria may even disintegrate.
“We need peace. I want to tell you that serious negotiations are going on in Chad to end the Boko Haram insurgency. The negotiation is between a delegation from private sector players and the government of Chad. The whole idea is to forge a common front to deal with the challenge of insecurity and Boko Haram.
“We do not want the insurgency to continue. It must go. That is why people who were blaming President Jonathan on his relationship with the former Borno State Governor, Senator Alli Modu – Sheriff are naive.
“The president of Nigeria has the right to travel with anybody he desires. Even if that person is in prison, the President can take the person out of prison, if the purpose is for a good cause,” Kalu said.
