The Sultan spoke in Sokoto when he received Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika.
He also spoke in Abuja at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Peace and Security Summit 2013, which the Chief Justice chaired.
At the summit, the Sultan was represented by Senator Isa Mohammed.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, also spoke on why the fight against the sect has been difficult.
The Sultan told the Army chief that it was necessary for the Federal Government to hold talks with the sect, which has declared a ceasefire, adding that “the dialogue would serve as a means of getting across to the other splinter groups within the sect.”
Describing the ceasefire as a welcome development, he said: “That is why when a few days ago, we heard of a purported ceasefire by a faction within the Boko Haram sect, we welcomed it and I believe it is an issue we have to open up to.”
The Sultan assured his guest that Nigeria would not break up.
“Nigeria will remain one entity. Those clamouring for the division of the country are just making noise, seeking for relevance. God cannot be wrong by bringing us together. He has a reason why he brought us together as Muslims and Christians. There are many issues that bind us together; there are many reasons why we should remain together as brothers and sisters in this country.”
To Gen. Ihejirika, Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable.
Justice Mukhtar said dialogue remains the best solution to agitation. The Sultan said leaders of thought and good conscience must come together, irrespective of their beliefs, to find a lasting solution to the insurgency.
But former Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) and Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) Chief Albert Horsfall warned the country against seeking support from the United States Defence and Intelligence.
He also warned governors against the call for state police because they could become victims of power games in the hands of their political opponents after leaving office.
Horsfall said what the country needs from America is technical and intelligence support.
“We do not need the United States defence and intelligence presence locally” because it will internationalise the Boko Haram and invite Al-Qaeda and the Taliban to the country.
“What we further need to do to neutralise the threat of Boko Haram and other violent organisations in the country is justice, good and effective governance at all levels; good international cooperation and collaboration,” he said.
NBA President, Okey Wali (SAN) said the summit was convened to search for enduring answers to the challenges to peace and security in Nigeria.
He also said the Bar would investigate the case of 18 bodies found floating in River Ezu, in Anambra State on January 19.
“Nobody, to date, has accounted for who they are and how they came floating in the river. This is happening in 2013 in Nigeria. What a shame,” Wali said.
Former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in his goodwill message, said Nigeria is blessed with both human and material resources to be better in the black world.
To achieve peace, Justice Mukhtar said: “A way must be found to transform the pervasive zero-sum, winner-takes-all mentality that is both the cause and the product of conflict. In Nigeria, this factor has contributed in no small measure in fuelling the insecurity in the country.”
Represented by Senator Mohammed, the Sultan said the challenges facing the country could be overcome with the cooperation of eminent people.
“We need to recognise the fact that if there is any problem in this country, it will not affect only the perpetrators, it will affect all of us,” he said.
He urged the government to license preachers “because it is through preaching that some people get indoctrinated”.
“We should to continue to preach peace. Our youths must be told that taking up arms against their brothers is criminal, the Sultan said.
Horsfall said “home grown insurgency in collusion and collaboration with external terrorism networks constitute the greatest threat to peace and security in Nigeria.
According to him, the Niger Delta insurgency is political; Boko Haram is religious and ideological.
Horsfall canvassed psychological re-orientation and a publicity programme for the Boko Haram members to bring them back into the mainstream of Islamic beliefs and practices.
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