By BEN AGANDE

ABUJA — Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Resolution of Security Challenge in the North, Mallam Kabiru Tanimu Turaki said yesterday, that the renewed violence in the northern part of the country will not affect the work of the committee.

Addressing newsmen after members of the committee met with President Goddluck Jonathan at the presidential Villa, Turaki said the committee was optimistic that it would be able to achieve its objective as it remains resolute despite the violence.

The committee chairman said: “The events of the last few weeks have not in any way derailed our programme. It has not derailed our resoluteness, desire and intention to make sure we get to the root of this problem”.

The committee chairman added “We are convinced that with efforts we are making we will be able to arrive at the middle course. Of course, dialogue does not mean there would be absence of differences.

“And when we sit down to negotiate it does not mean that everybody will get or must get what he wants. There would be give and take at the end of the day. The most fundamental thing, from my own understanding, is that the Jama’a (Boko Haram) people are not averse to dialogue and settlement of the dispute”.

Speaking on the meeting with the president, Turaki said it was at the instance of the committee to have a clearer perspective of government’s position on the issues after meeting with critical stakeholders, including members of the sect who are in detention.

“You may be aware that we have had interactions with the security agencies, prison authorities, customs, defence headquarters and other people that we think are necessary stakeholders.

“What we are doing is to discuss and have their input and we feel that having interacted with most of the security agencies, we feel we have come to the critical stage where we also need to hear from the government. That was what we came to discuss with Mr President.

“The discussion has been very frank and very fruitful. The meeting was at our instance because we feel that before we begin to move into the field, to engage the other side and other people, that are also essential to our assignment we need to discuss with the government”.

That was why we had to speak with the president and ask him some few questions; That is in addition to what we received from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and other security agencies. And I can assure you and indeed Nigerians that the committee is more enriched to face the challenges ahead of us” he said.

He said the next phase of the committee’s activity would be to meet with governors, traditional rulers, leaders of the frontline states as well as the clergymen in those areas.

“We will go even to inspect the epicentres of this crisis, see the people that have had casualties, see the victims because part of our responsibility and recommendations we will make is for Victims Support Programme. So, unless we are able to get to the field and see these stakeholders, discuss and take useful information from them like we have done from this other side also, our work will not be balanced” he said.

Meanwhile the governor of Borno state, Alhaji Kashim Shettima has said that the state would overcome its present security challenge and shine again.

Speaking with state house correspondents after meeting with president Jonathan alongside the governor of Yobe state, Ibrahim Geidam, Governor Shettima said the meeting with the president was to “cross pollinate ideas with Mr. President on how to move the nation forward”.

Asked on the security situation in the state, the governor described what was going on in the state as a “temporary eclipse”.