BY CHRIS OCHAYI
ABUJA –  Former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has said that it will be difficult for the Federal Government to negotiate with the Boko Haram sect, being a faceless organisation.

Shekarau, who stated this in Abuja shortly after he was conferred with a Certificate of Excellence by the Amalgamation of Nigeria Youth Organisations, said it was wrong for anybody to suggest that government should dialogue with Boko Haram.

The former presidential candidate of All Nigerian People Party, ANPP, in last April’s general election, further ruled out any possibility of negotiation with the Boko Haram members who he described as criminals.

Shekarau said it was wrong for anybody to call on the government to negotiate with alleged criminal and faceless organisation as Boko Haram.

“Where can you see them. They are faceless and how can anyone reach out to them?” Shekarau queried.

He, however, blamed the terrorist activities of the Islamic sect in some parts of the North on bad leaderships that had ruled the nation.

H said it was bad governance over the years that prompted genuine and crimminally-minded youth organisations to take up arms against the state.

On his next political ambition, the former governor said it was too early to unfold his plans for 2015 presidential election, but promised that given the opportunity to serve, he will replicate the tremendous achievements recorded by his administration in Kano State at the national level.

Earlier, the youth leader, Prince Okpara, said the certificate and a plaque as grand patron of the youth organisation were presented to Shekarau, following his achievement as governor of Kano State.

Okpara stressed further that Igbo youth would mobilize support for Shekarau’s presidential bid come 2015 elections.

He said: “Whilst Kano was prior to Shekarau’s advent some sort of political hotbed, Shekarau brought peace, calm and stability to Kano. Little wonder, then why Kano was the bee-hive of activities for investors from all corners of the country and beyond.

“There was no crisis in Kano during Shekarau’s reign, religious extremists did not infiltrate into Kano. There were no bombings. There was no religious turmoil. Shekarau carefully and ably brought all the various religious and ethnic regrouping together in an atmosphere of genuine love, sincerity of purpose.

“We cannot end this tribute without assuring Mallam Shekarau of the staunch support of all Nigerian youths in all his future endeavours. Nigerians will stand solidly behind him like the rock of Gibraltar to mobilise support for him any time he decides to offer himself to the services to our nation in any capacity whatsoever.”