Why Buhari’s Rejection of Boko Haram Is a Correct Political Decision

peace talk rejected by former presidential candidate

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a former presidential candidate’s rejection of the mediatory role offered him in a proposed peace talk between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram has been described by some political analysts as a right political decision.

The analysts, who spoke with Sunday Punch, said the offer had put Buhari in a political dilemma but that the former presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change took the better of the two options he had.

A senior political science lecturer at the University of Abuja, Prof. Dauda Saleh, said Buhari’s rejection of the offer to serve as mediator was the right thing to do, but noted that it was a tough political choice he made.

“It was really a dilemma. On one hand, if he had accepted the offer, there was the possibility that he would have been linked to the group and that would have been a serious liability and could have ended his political career. This is more so because some people seem to have the impression that he is an Islamic fundamentalist, who had a religious agenda.

“But on the other hand, rejecting the offer, some people would say he turned down an opportunity to help solve a major national problem. So, both options had the potential of hurting his political career one way or another. But, I think he made the right choice.”

Similarly, the Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Lagos, Prof. Solomon Akinboye, said Buhari’s decision could have been acceptance or rejection, with uncertain political implications.

He said, “The man (Buhari) said he does not know them (Boko Haram), so, he cannot mediate for them. It was his decision to make and I think he was right in taking that decision. Whether his decision would affect his political career is another issue.

“However, if he had accepted and was able to help curb the insecurity in the country, it would have been a plus for him. It was really a political dilemma. Now, some people might see him as running away from an important national service.”

In the same vein, the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said Buhari’s rejection of the offer was a welcome development.

Shettima said the proposed peace talk was likely to fail, adding that the nomination of Buhari might be a trap to discredit him.

He said, “Buhari’s rejection of the offer of the mediatory role is a welcome development and that is because I don’t see anything coming out of the so-called dialogue.

“I believe there are still sign that the whole negotiation will not hold water and it is not proper for Buhari, with the reputation he has built over the years, to get involved in such activity.

“Buhari said he did not know these people called Boko Haram and you cannot expect him to stand for people he has not met. They should have chosen clerics or some other prominent people in the North, not Buhari who is leading an opposition party. Whether you like it or not, this move has a political undertone. It is either a booby trap set by the government of the day to mess Buhari up, or those people behind Boko Haram want to mess him up.”

Shettima added that Buhari’s rejection of the offer had also shown that the insurgency had nothing to do with Buhari’s loss at the 2011 presidential election or the North’s ambition to regain power at the centre.

“No real northerner is happy with what is happening, because we are losing more,” he said.

Actress Chika Ike Speaks on Crashed Marriage

Actress Chika Ike Speaks on Crashed Marriage

Charming Nollywood actress, Chika Ike is quite an interesting personality to hang-out with. On the other hand, the sultry actress who hails from Ekwuluobia, Umuchiana village in Anambra State confesses that she has learnt some lessons in life.

The once married thespian talks about her acting career, her thriving business and other related issues in this interview with Kunle Akinridade of The Nation. Excerpt:

How true is it that you have a bad temper?
That story is not true, and those who are saying that obviously don’t know me. I can be very terrible when I am angry, but I know how to manage my anger very well. It’s either I take a walk from the scene or I stay alone to calm down, because I know that a man could say the worst things when angry.

If you are not an actress, what would you have been doing?
I would have opted for interior decoration, painting and other similar things because of my passion for things that has to do with arts or better still modeling. And as a matter of fact, I started off as a model, but acting has taken that from me now. Modeling is lucrative when you are on billboard or television commercial. But acting has made me busier than modeling. However, I must confess that I still want to be on the runway as a model, but acting is not allowing it.

What lessons have life taught you so far?
Taking a look at my life lately, I think I have learnt a lot of lessons so far. Life has taught me to be very patient and not to be in a hurry to do anything. It has also taught me to be less judgmental on people and to look before I leap; but more importantly, not to give up.

Talking about looking before leaping, does it have to do with your crashed marriage?
I rather not talk about that because it is my private life and I would like to keep it as that. That part of me is one of those things I would rather have you not talk about.

But something must have happened to you before you can conclude on such matters…
Cuts in… You are still inching toward my private life and I think we should not delve into such things.

What has changed about you?
Nothing has changed about me at all. I am still the same Chika Ike. I strive to achieve more in my career because it is good to aim big for career improvement.

You recently marked your birthday on a film location in Enugu State. How did you celebrate it?
I threw a party at PK Garden in Enugu. I am also planning a charity show for street children because my foundation is concerned with the plight of street kids in our society. I threw up a similar party for them a couple of months ago.

How do you manage the home when you are away on location?
(Laughter) I know what you want to get at, and I would not oblige you. You want to fly through the window to get an answer to your earlier question about my private life, but I bet you won’t get me.

What do you consider when accepting roles; money or good script?
I consider the story, the plot, the cast, the crew and the total output of the movie. Apart from these, I also consider the publicity around the project. I don’t take roles because of the financial gain. I have had cause to turn down scripts because of the poor content or because the role is not challenging at all. At times, I decline scripts because of my busy schedule. I have a sucker for stories that are emotionally challenging and not uninspiring roles.

How busy are you?
Right now, I am busy and greatly occupied for the rest of the year, even up till January 2013. I have been in Enugu for some weeks, and I don’t have time for any other thing because it’s only fair for me to finish the jobs I had been paid for at the moment.

Which job are you working on at the moment?
It is not my project; I am only being featured in the movie. The working title is “kleptomania” and I played a lead role in the movie. It is a big project and the movie was quite challenging because in one of the scenes, I played the role of an accident victim and was on clutches. It was indeed tough. But I think the role is also a career booster, because it also portrays me as a versatile and dynamic thespian.

What are your plans for the future?
I intend to run fashion outfits, not just in Nigeria, but all over Africa. And hopefully, we would soon start it. Although it’s still in the pipeline, but I am already working on it with all my vigour. And because of my fashion business, I am planning to bring models on the runway soon. By next year, I’ll also be part of a movie project in the United States of America (USA). Thank God, I have a great manager, publicist and people that make my life easy for me. They have ensured that I don’t naturally get stressed up, so I can focus on my career and other businesses.

How do you run from scandals?
It just happens. For example I have been busy for several weeks; I have been traveling from one state to another to take part in one movie or the other. For me, it’s not just about being overly careful or intentionally trying to avoid scandals, but being pre-occupied with jobs. Believe me; celebrities cannot insulate themselves from scandals because even if you don’t curry one, the press could give you a bad press, such that you will be trying frantically to exonerate yourself.