Boko Haram: Jonathan, Arewa leaders meet in Aso Rock

Written by Leon Usigbe, Abuja Thursday, 17 May 2012

A new approach to the issue of Boko Haram has been opened, with President Goodluck Jonathan meeting with the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday night, to deliberate on how to proceed with the effort to tackle the menace.

The chairman of forum, Lieutenant-General Jerry Useni (retd), led other members, including former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie; former Katsina State governors, Alhaji Saidu Barda and Brigaider Lawrence Onoja (retd), among others.

At the end of the meeting, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, told State House correspondents that the ACF had pledged to back the Federal Government against Boko Haram.

He said the ACF told President Jonathan that the forum had already taken steps to address the issue, with the setting up a committee which would make its report available to government on completion of its assignment

President Jonathan, according to his spokesman, assured the northern leaders that his doors were always open for consultation and was ready to work with them.

On the recent comments on the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, Useni said there was friction between government and the former head of state.

via Tribune