THE purported amnesty programme being considered by the Federal
Government for members of the Boko Haram sect got another boost yesterday as
the presidential candidate of the Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) threw his
weight behind the programme.
The former military Head of State, while speaking
with reporters in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on his way to Ikenne to pay condolence
to the Yeye Odua, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo on the death of her son, Chief
Oluwole Awolowo, said whatever would bring peace to Nigeria must be pursued.
Accompanied by the former House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Bello Masari, CPC National Chairman, Prince Tony Momoh, and the party’s vice presidential candidate in 2011 election, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Buhari said “It is good that they have set up a committee on amnesty. I have not seen the terms of reference, but it is a right step in a right direction.
“This is not the first time amnesty would be given to a violent group. You remember it happened in the time of Yar’Adua when he gave amnesty to militants, but whatever would bring us peace as a society, we should do it,” Buhari stated.
In March this year, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar called on President Goodluck Jonathan to consider amnesty for the Boko Haram sect when all entreaties to subdue their terror reign failed. Since then, pressure had mounted on President Jonathan to review his stance.
Few days ago, Niger State governor, Aliyu Babangida commended President Jonathan, for considering the possibility of an amnesty programme for the sect.
Babangida commended President Jonathan for listening to different cries in the country.
He said President Jonathan had demonstrated “excellent leadership by listening to cries from different quarters on the possibility of an amnesty for Boko Haram, though we understand that amnesty in itself is not the solution to the so-called Boko Haram challenge. We have to look at another way of addressing the issue in securing Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Babangida, in his call, however, called on governors of the northern states to assist the Federal Government by helping to unmask the ghost.
Also, a religious non-governmental organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), said amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect remained the only option available to the Federal Government to curb the insurgency in the North.
A statement from MURIC at the weekend and signed by its director, Is-haq Akintola, welcomed President Jonathan’s decision to set up a committee to look into the possibility or otherwise of granting amnesty to members of the sect.
“We are of the opinion that this is a step in the right direction. We believe that the Nigerian president is now thinking like the president of the whole country. Only by granting amnesty to the Boko Haram group can the president reposition the country for peaceful coexistence.
“Amnesty gives life, hope and recovery. On the contrary, continued hostility and pursuit of insurgents are characterised by death and general insecurity. Terrorists have one mindset, namely, to put asunder what government has put together, to destroy what government has built. Terrorists seek to cause as much havoc as possible in order to attract attention to their cause. President Jonathan needs all hands on deck to build a united Nigeria and a virile economy. Progress of any kind cannot be attained in a state of insecurity,” MURIC said.
It is recalled that President Jonathan’s stance on amnesty changed after his meeting with the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), during which it was believed both parties explored solutions to end the insurgency.
He had previously rejected the idea of granting amnesty to the sect. This he made known during his visit to Borno and Yobe States, last month.
President Jonathan however vowed that he was not ready to grant amnesty to ‘ghosts’, saying they would have to come out of hiding before he would consider that option.
Last week, the Federal Government has however set up a committee to work on certain areas of the amnesty conditions.
Accompanied by the former House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Bello Masari, CPC National Chairman, Prince Tony Momoh, and the party’s vice presidential candidate in 2011 election, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Buhari said “It is good that they have set up a committee on amnesty. I have not seen the terms of reference, but it is a right step in a right direction.
“This is not the first time amnesty would be given to a violent group. You remember it happened in the time of Yar’Adua when he gave amnesty to militants, but whatever would bring us peace as a society, we should do it,” Buhari stated.
In March this year, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar called on President Goodluck Jonathan to consider amnesty for the Boko Haram sect when all entreaties to subdue their terror reign failed. Since then, pressure had mounted on President Jonathan to review his stance.
Few days ago, Niger State governor, Aliyu Babangida commended President Jonathan, for considering the possibility of an amnesty programme for the sect.
Babangida commended President Jonathan for listening to different cries in the country.
He said President Jonathan had demonstrated “excellent leadership by listening to cries from different quarters on the possibility of an amnesty for Boko Haram, though we understand that amnesty in itself is not the solution to the so-called Boko Haram challenge. We have to look at another way of addressing the issue in securing Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Babangida, in his call, however, called on governors of the northern states to assist the Federal Government by helping to unmask the ghost.
Also, a religious non-governmental organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), said amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect remained the only option available to the Federal Government to curb the insurgency in the North.
A statement from MURIC at the weekend and signed by its director, Is-haq Akintola, welcomed President Jonathan’s decision to set up a committee to look into the possibility or otherwise of granting amnesty to members of the sect.
“We are of the opinion that this is a step in the right direction. We believe that the Nigerian president is now thinking like the president of the whole country. Only by granting amnesty to the Boko Haram group can the president reposition the country for peaceful coexistence.
“Amnesty gives life, hope and recovery. On the contrary, continued hostility and pursuit of insurgents are characterised by death and general insecurity. Terrorists have one mindset, namely, to put asunder what government has put together, to destroy what government has built. Terrorists seek to cause as much havoc as possible in order to attract attention to their cause. President Jonathan needs all hands on deck to build a united Nigeria and a virile economy. Progress of any kind cannot be attained in a state of insecurity,” MURIC said.
It is recalled that President Jonathan’s stance on amnesty changed after his meeting with the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), during which it was believed both parties explored solutions to end the insurgency.
He had previously rejected the idea of granting amnesty to the sect. This he made known during his visit to Borno and Yobe States, last month.
President Jonathan however vowed that he was not ready to grant amnesty to ‘ghosts’, saying they would have to come out of hiding before he would consider that option.
Last week, the Federal Government has however set up a committee to work on certain areas of the amnesty conditions.
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Amnesty...this poor tentacles of a Man called GEJ, ws a mistake...last month no amnesty, dis month, let there b amnesty. Mr. President, with all due respect, I want to knw on wat groung we ar granting dis amnesty? Wat ar their griviences? In south South, they made known there problems on hw d government failed dem, polluting the land and all, thereby putting d pple in a state of hardship even while dey were located on d wealth of Nigeria or d source of d wealth rather. Plz did Nigeria carry any cow frm d north? We need Military intervention...like that, wen any idiot comes out to support dem, we knw dat he is linked wit dem and we kill d Anti Nigerian Bastard son of a thousand Fathers. Prepare 4 ministry of western affair cos I see dat in d cosmos nt far frm here and now, and also tell us d juicy packages dat u hav 4 us in d middle belt unless if u want us to knw dat d packages come only to those who shed innocent blood 4 no reason.
ReplyDeleteDatz nonsense the boko haram should come out if not nothing for them oooo
ReplyDeleteNo amnesty, how abt the souls that was lost!!!! As a president he shud use his position, get detectives n fish out dis pple, its like makin a deal wit Satan 4 peace 2 reign we r far more dan dt!
ReplyDeleteno amnesty 4 boko haram,wat 4
ReplyDelete