LAGOS MAY 18TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in 2007 general election Chief Sunny Onuesoke has rejected the demand of Boko Haram Leader, Mohammadu Shekau request of exchanging the abducted Chibok girls for Boko Haram prisoners saying it as unjustifiable, unreasonable, irritating and cheap black mail.
Onuesoke who spoke to journalist at Lagos Airport on Saturday while boarding a flight to Asaba Delta State said the demand of Shakau is devoid of logic and no basis could be found for it in law and morality, just as he advised the federal government not to succumb to blackmail.
He advised the government not to compromise anything, adding that those who had committed crimes against humanity cannot dictate terms of their release from detention.
“They should account for their crimes. Which country is that practiced? People offended the state. Their ring leaders who sent them on an unlawful errand to invade a school and take the innocent girls are giving conditions. They are saying that their members in detention should be released before they release the girls. Where is that done in the world?
“Shekau demands could be ascribed to a thief who invaded a house. Then, the thief is saying that, before what is stolen can be returned, you have to pay money to the thieves. No government can do that. Our government should not do that. In other countries, the sect members would have been apprehended by now”, Onuesoke who is the Country Director of Network for Good Governance (N4GG) disclosed.
He, however, argued that the government has done the right thing by exploring dialogue as route to the solution to the problem, but quickly added that it is legally and morally wrong to propose the release of the Boko Haram suspects in prison in exchange for the innocent girls.
“It is unfortunate and uncalled for. I cannot support that. The children have nothing to do with their claims, what they want and what they are fighting for. If they want to fight the government as terrorist, they can fight the government. But, they cannot be seizing girls. Why should they go to schools to disrupt the peace of the place? “I don’t support the idea of unconditional release of the innocent girls. Let them release the children to their families and embrace dialogue. Why should faceless people give conditions to government?” Onuesoke queried.
Describing Boko Haram as faceless group, he argued that Boko Haram insurgents cannot be compared with Niger Delta militants in anyway, adding that the government was to negotiate with Niger Delta militants because they saw them but Boko Haram is invincible.