Shettima, who said this during an interview with CNN's Christy Anampour, noted that political difference between the Borno State Government controlled by the All Progressives Congress and the Federal Government led by the Peoples Democratic Party, had affected response to the insurgency.
The governor said the abduction of the over 200 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, could have been foiled if the Federal Government and the ruling PDP were focused on solving the problem and not blaming it on the opposition.
He added that politics got in the way of proper communication between the Federal Government and the Borno State Government on the abduction of the girls in the first few days after the incident.
"The sad element in all of this is that three years ago, I was telling everyone that it (Boko Haram insurgency) is a minor problem but if it is not handled with tact and care it was capable of metastasizing into a conflagration that might consume the whole North. But the Federal Government was deaf, dumb and blind to the ground reality," Shettima said.
On whether the Federal Government should negotiate with Boko Haram or accept its prisoners swap offer, the governor said there was need to do anything possible to get the girls back.
He said, "We need to get the girls back and we don't have the luxury of time in our hands. If they are our daughters, this issue of negotiating or not negotiating with terrorists will be out of the question. If it means talking to the devil, if the devil can come down, we should get them back."
Shettima added that he was optimistic that the abducted girls would be brought back alive.
The governor, whose state has been under emergency rule in the past one year, alongside neighbouring Yobe and Adamawa states, insisted that the military action alone could not end the insurgency. He described the insurgency as a phenomenon borne out of social exclusivity, poverty, hunger, homelessness, hopelessness, and illiteracy.
He also dissociated Boko Haram from Islam, saying the sect had violated every tenet of the religion.
The APC Women Leader, Sharon Ikeazor, who was interviewed alongside Shettima, said her anger was fuelled by the ineptitude of government in handling the abduction of the schoolgirls.
She said the Federal Government had the chance of rescuing the girls on the day they were abducted.
Ikeazor added part of the campaign was to economically empower the women.
Few months ago, Shettima had said the Boko Haram insurgents were better armed and motivated than the Nigerian Army.
via nigerianeye
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