To this, it is only natural to get two replies. First, the denial by the federal government that Mr. Davies is acting on its behalf is just normal. No government is known to directly negotiate with terrorists. They do so using a third party negotiator like Mr. Davies. This is not the first time the renowned hostage negotiator is coming to Nigeria on this kind of mission.
Secondly, the government is querying his going to the media with such information. Wasn’t Mr. Davies supposed to be an independent, self-appointed negotiator? Why should he report to a Government that didn’t appoint him in the first instance?
At this point, we need to flash back as a reminder to link some related events. Early 2012, former President Goodluck Jonathan came out publicly to say (except he said this under duress) that members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram served in his own cabinet. After making this careless statement many thought it was one of those “unpresidential” remarks which the former President was known to make, he unconsciously gave a major clue to deciphering the real sponsors of insecurity in Nigeria.
Later in 2012 when General Adrew Owoye Azazi (rtd) the then National Security Adviser (NSA) told us what some we never wanted to hear: the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was behind the veil of Boko Haram. Had this statement came from a Northerner, some of our Southern friends would have publicly demanded for his head.
But, will they? Instead of doing this, the Cabinet “branch” of Boko Haram put enormous pressure on President Jonathan to get him sacked from his position and left to die under controversial circumstances in a plane crash. Those who were familiar with these events know Azazi was actually living on borrowed time on that job since making the statement!
At this point, let us bring in a latterly-appointed NSA, Colonel Sambo Dansuki (rtd). Though he wasn’t expressly indicted the Davis’ report, but with the recent revelations that he actually profited from the alleged stealing of more than $2 billion (£1.3bn) meant to buy weapons for the military to fight Islamic militant Boko Haram rebels.
Mr Dasuki also allegedly got some compromised staff in the CBN to help him transfer $142.6 million to a company with accounts in the United States, the United Kingdom and in West Africa for unknown purposes and without contracts. Do we still doubt the authencity of Mr Davis report?
Let us look at this whole issue from another angle, outside the negotiator’s original report. Now we are talking about the content of his revelations and not the procedural bla bla bla. Let us assume, in his report, he has fingered any or all the following people: General Muhammadu Buhari(RTD), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola or Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The news headlines would have read in, say, The Vanguard, the next day would most likely have been: “Foreign Negotiator Indicts Buhari, Tinubu, Others As Boko Haram Sponsors”, or “APC Leaders Behind Boko Haram-Australian Negotiator”
I am sure if this were to be the Australian’s ‘revelations’, the then loquacious DSS Spokesperson, Ms Marilyn Ogar, will be in high vindictive mood. She would have been on the pages of newspapers for days-even weeks- speaking on the top of her voice her Department was aware all the while.
She would have used the “revelations” to strengthen her earlier argument that APC was behind all the bomb blasts in the country. Maybe he would by now Mr Davis will be going about with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) or higher, for a “well deserved service to the nation” conferred on him by President Jonathan. At that point there will be no question of Mr. Davies’ “authority to negotiate with Boko Haram.”
Before we forget, at what point did Senator Ali Ndume Senator (Bornu South) stop being the sponsor of Boko Haram? What has become of his case at the courts since he joined the PDP? Were the Boko Haram members who the former President said are in his Government the ones responsible for the sacking of General Andrew Azazi as the National Security Adviser?
