The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Thursday called for the resumption of talks? between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram to resolve the rising wave of insecurity in the country.
The ACF made the call in a communiqué issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Anthony Sani? in Kaduna at the end of its Annual General meeting.
It noted that dialogue and understanding would end the current criminal violence and restore lasting peace in the country.
The forum implored the two sides to set aside all prejudices and revive the recent aborted dialogue in the national interest.
The communique' read in part: “The meeting considered the current efforts at constructive engagement between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram aimed at bringing lasting solutions to the menace caused by activities of the sect.
“In view of the overriding need across the nation for peace and security, which are essential for any meaningful socio-economic and political development, the General Assembly appealed to all the parties concerned to please reconsider their withdrawal from the talks and resume the dialogues with all sense of seriousness.
“This is because no sacrifice can be too much for peace and national interest.
“This Forum also recognised the patriotic courage of those who made the assignation between the parties possible and the ensuing altercations leading to the unsavoury withdrawals from the talks.
“Consequently, the meeting called on all the parties involved in the dialogue to note that difficult tasks like the current one are not unexpected.
“And that great men are defined by great challenges because they often pursue causes higher than themselves as worthy impulse.
“And in the course of the discourse towards attaining sustainable peace and national security, the parties must not lose sight of the truism that over the history of nations and long lives of individuals, there is time to stay the course, time for compromises and there is time to let go for larger interest and collective good.'' (NAN)