NEW YORK— President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the United Nations to help mediate with the terror group, Boko Haram, in order to free the over 200 abducted Chibok girls.
The President also urged world leaders not to hesitate to repatriate illicit financial assets stashed away in their countries when legally established, adding that what informed the aggressive fight against corruption in Nigeria was the fact that it had denied the country progress and development.
The teenage girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram in April 2014 from their government-owned school in Chibok, Borno State.
Speaking on Wednesday in New York during a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, Buhari said his government was willing to accept the UN as a mediator, reiterating his earlier stance that it was difficult identifying the credible leadership of the sect.
“The challenge is in getting credible and bonafide leadership of Boko Haram to discuss with. The split in the insurgent group is not helping matters.
‘’Government had reached out, ready to negotiate, but it became difficult to identify credible leaders. We will welcome intermediaries such as UN outfits, to step in.”
The President reiterated that the teachings of Boko Haram were far from being Islamic, as neither Islam, nor any other religion, advocates hurting the weak and innocent.
“The fact that they kill men, women, children, and other people wantonly, and shout Allahu Akbar (God is great) shows that they do not know that Allah at all. If they did, they would not shed innocent blood,” President Buhari said.
In his response, the UN Secretary General congratulated President Buhari on the anti-corruption war his government was currently fighting.
“You are highly respected by world leaders, including myself. Your persona has given your country a positive image,” he declared.
He said the UN recognized the achievements of Buhari’s administration against Boko Haram, urging that human rights be upheld always to prevent a repeat of the scenario being witnessed in Syria.
Ban Ki-Moon also thanked the President for his commitment to issues on climate change, adding that the government should “own the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs,” for the good of its citizens.
Stolen assets
Meanwhile, President Buhari has urged world leaders not to hesitate to repatriate illicit financial assets stashed away in their countries when they are legally established.
He also stated that what informed the aggressive fight against corruption in Nigeria was that it had denied the country progress and development.
The President spoke yesterday in New York at the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development.
He also called on development partners to step up the anti-corruption fight by returning ill-gotten financial assets and halt future illicit financial flows to their countries.
According to him, such collective action “will guarantee a stronger international defence of the right to development.”
President Buhari noted that illicit financial assets stashed abroad deprived developing countries, including Nigeria, of basic amenities and invariably depleted national wealth and resources needed for development.
He cautioned that non-repatriation of illicit financial assets could impinge on the determination of states to achieve an all-inclusive 2030 sustainable development.
He said further: ‘’As soon as stolen assets are legally established, they should be swiftly be repatriated.”
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