The
Christian Association of Nigeria on Thursday
flayed Boko Haram’s rejection of amnesty by the Federal Government,
saying it was a further indication that the militant Islamic sect was bent on
Islamising the country.
Christian Association of Nigeria on Thursday
flayed Boko Haram’s rejection of amnesty by the Federal Government,
saying it was a further indication that the militant Islamic sect was bent on
Islamising the country.
CAN, through its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, therefore
challenged northern leaders seeking amnesty for Boko Haram members to
bring Sheik Ibrahim Shekau to a dialogue
table with the government.
challenged northern leaders seeking amnesty for Boko Haram members to
bring Sheik Ibrahim Shekau to a dialogue
table with the government.
Shekau,who is the sect’s leader, had in a recorded audio
message in Hausa, said it was ironical that the Federal Government was
contemplating amnesty for Boko Haram members, who according to him,
had not done anything wrong by waging a war against the nation.
message in Hausa, said it was ironical that the Federal Government was
contemplating amnesty for Boko Haram members, who according to him,
had not done anything wrong by waging a war against the nation.
He was quoted by the Agence
France Presse as
saying, “Surprisingly, the Nigerian government is talking about granting
amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant
you (Federal Government) (a) pardon.”
France Presse as
saying, “Surprisingly, the Nigerian government is talking about granting
amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant
you (Federal Government) (a) pardon.”
But Oritsejafor, who in a telephone interview with
one of our correspondents, reiterated his opposition to amnesty for the
sect members, said he was not surprised by the development.
one of our correspondents, reiterated his opposition to amnesty for the
sect members, said he was not surprised by the development.
He said, “The menace of Boko Haram is primarily a
religious issue. They believe they have a mandate from Allah to Islamise
Nigeria. When I talk like this, it’s not because I hate Muslims.
religious issue. They believe they have a mandate from Allah to Islamise
Nigeria. When I talk like this, it’s not because I hate Muslims.
“In fact, those who say they are good Muslim leaders should be
worried because Boko Haram members are the people who give Islam a bad
name.”
worried because Boko Haram members are the people who give Islam a bad
name.”
Stating that Boko Haram is based on ideology,
he added, “They (Boko Haram members) do not see anything good
in what government is saying. I am therefore not surprised at what
Shekau just said.
he added, “They (Boko Haram members) do not see anything good
in what government is saying. I am therefore not surprised at what
Shekau just said.
“In my opinion, he is even a more principled man than most
of these Boko Haram members because most of them are just jumping on the
bandwagon and thinking that by saying this, Nigerians will see them as
people who love Nigeria, but it’s not true.
of these Boko Haram members because most of them are just jumping on the
bandwagon and thinking that by saying this, Nigerians will see them as
people who love Nigeria, but it’s not true.
“We have said it before, to whom do government want to
give amnesty? Where is the prison and where are the people? I understand
Shekau said it’s Boko Haram that should give the Federal Government amnesty.
So, where do we go from here?”
give amnesty? Where is the prison and where are the people? I understand
Shekau said it’s Boko Haram that should give the Federal Government amnesty.
So, where do we go from here?”
Oritsejafor said rather than pursuing amnesty for the group, the
Federal Government should concentrate on the victims of its violence.
Federal Government should concentrate on the victims of its violence.
“The government should find ways to stop people from being
killed and they should find ways to compensate the people and do something to
help the widows and orphans. As we speak, the killing is still going on
every day in Borno, Yobe and some other states in the North.”
killed and they should find ways to compensate the people and do something to
help the widows and orphans. As we speak, the killing is still going on
every day in Borno, Yobe and some other states in the North.”
Advising that “people should stop comparing Boko Haram
with Niger Delta militants,” the cleric noted that the late
President Umaru Yar’ Adua did not go to the Niger Delta to
look for the “boys.”
with Niger Delta militants,” the cleric noted that the late
President Umaru Yar’ Adua did not go to the Niger Delta to
look for the “boys.”
“He (Yar’Adua) gave President Goodluck Jonathan who was then his
deputy an order to go to the creeks. He (Jonathan) was able
to identify the boys and they were taken to Yar’ Adua. So these Northern elders
should look for Shekau and his people and negotiate with them .”
deputy an order to go to the creeks. He (Jonathan) was able
to identify the boys and they were taken to Yar’ Adua. So these Northern elders
should look for Shekau and his people and negotiate with them .”
He recalled that Yar’ Adua gave the militants
months to drop their arms and ammunition and embrace amnesty.
months to drop their arms and ammunition and embrace amnesty.
In separate interviews also on Thursday, the
Pan-Northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum,
and the Northern Elders Forum advised the Federal Government to
formally make an offer to the sect members.
Pan-Northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum,
and the Northern Elders Forum advised the Federal Government to
formally make an offer to the sect members.
The advice by the two groups was however opposed by
the Coalition of Concerned Northern Politicians and Academics and
Businessmen as well as the Civil Rights Congress which
said the rejection of amnesty did not surprise them.
the Coalition of Concerned Northern Politicians and Academics and
Businessmen as well as the Civil Rights Congress which
said the rejection of amnesty did not surprise them.
The ACF, through its National Publicity Secretary ,
Mr. Anthony Sani, said, “Let the amnesty be offered first and
those agreeable to it accept before we know how to handle
those that refuse it.
Mr. Anthony Sani, said, “Let the amnesty be offered first and
those agreeable to it accept before we know how to handle
those that refuse it.
“This is because amnesty is a mechanism put in place to assure
the safety of members of the sect should they agree to dialogue.”
the safety of members of the sect should they agree to dialogue.”
To the NEF, the rejection of the plan was a sign that
dialogue had started between the Federal Government and Boko Haram.
dialogue had started between the Federal Government and Boko Haram.
“We are very glad. If there is a reaction from the group in
terms of what government has pronounced, even though it has not given details
of its pronouncement to us that is the beginning of dialogue; at least dialogue
through the medium that you are providing,” spokesperson for the NEF,
Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said in an interview with one of our
correspondents.
terms of what government has pronounced, even though it has not given details
of its pronouncement to us that is the beginning of dialogue; at least dialogue
through the medium that you are providing,” spokesperson for the NEF,
Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said in an interview with one of our
correspondents.
He added, “People can exchange views through
newspapers at the beginning that could eventually lead them to face each
other person to person. Really we will look at it positively and if
nothing, our efforts have so far led to this exchange between the group and the
government. I think we should look at it on the positive side.
newspapers at the beginning that could eventually lead them to face each
other person to person. Really we will look at it positively and if
nothing, our efforts have so far led to this exchange between the group and the
government. I think we should look at it on the positive side.
“If we look at it on the negative side, we will not be promoting
the eventual dialogue and understanding that we are looking for.”
the eventual dialogue and understanding that we are looking for.”
The group recalled that when Yar’Adua granted
amnesty for Niger Delta militants, he gave them a six- month period
to accept the offer.
amnesty for Niger Delta militants, he gave them a six- month period
to accept the offer.
It therefore advised the Federal Government to give the
sect a time frame within which to accept the offer.
sect a time frame within which to accept the offer.
The elders forum added that it was wrong for the
government to have said that the sect was faceless since about 5,
000 of its members were currently in detention.
government to have said that the sect was faceless since about 5,
000 of its members were currently in detention.
“We can’t say these people are faceless. Many of them are
present because there are about 5, 000 of them in detention and
you are the ones reporting that commander so and so have been arrested,”
he said.
present because there are about 5, 000 of them in detention and
you are the ones reporting that commander so and so have been arrested,”
he said.
But the Executive Secretary of CRC, Mallam Shehu Sani,
insisted that the amnesty plan was a charade.
insisted that the amnesty plan was a charade.
In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, Sani
said, “In the first place, the whole idea of the amnesty is centered on the
disbursement of money and the group has never made any financial request or
demand and has never given any financial condition for anything.
said, “In the first place, the whole idea of the amnesty is centered on the
disbursement of money and the group has never made any financial request or
demand and has never given any financial condition for anything.
“So by rejecting the amnesty, they are simply rejecting
what they perceive as a charade and an attempt to use them to defraud the
state.
what they perceive as a charade and an attempt to use them to defraud the
state.
“It is very clear that the northern elite are in fact in support
of the amnesty and the proposal which they have shown the President contains
nothing but ideas on how money could be spent on the issue of amnesty but
the insurgent group now came out to reject the whole idea simply
because it is dubious.”
of the amnesty and the proposal which they have shown the President contains
nothing but ideas on how money could be spent on the issue of amnesty but
the insurgent group now came out to reject the whole idea simply
because it is dubious.”
Also, the Convener of CCNPAB, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said,
“What they (Boko Haram) said was actually the truth. Firstly, they had not
negotiated with the Federal Government and so the question of who
is giving who amnesty becomes confused. You have at least some measure of guilt
before you accept to benefit from and subsequently accept being forgiven.
That is what amnesty is all about.
“What they (Boko Haram) said was actually the truth. Firstly, they had not
negotiated with the Federal Government and so the question of who
is giving who amnesty becomes confused. You have at least some measure of guilt
before you accept to benefit from and subsequently accept being forgiven.
That is what amnesty is all about.
An Ibadan- based cleric and founder of the C&S Success
Gate Inc, Akure, Primate Ademisokun Turton, said the
rejection of the proposed amnesty was a confirmation that a
powerful political class in Northern Nigeria was sponsoring the group.
Gate Inc, Akure, Primate Ademisokun Turton, said the
rejection of the proposed amnesty was a confirmation that a
powerful political class in Northern Nigeria was sponsoring the group.
“I am not surprised that the Boko Haram has rejected
the amnesty plan . It is now clear that their agitation is political.
What they want is either Nigeria breaks up or they rule it,” Turton said.
the amnesty plan . It is now clear that their agitation is political.
What they want is either Nigeria breaks up or they rule it,” Turton said.
Also on Thursday, the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar
El-kanemi, said that amnesty for Boko Haram
members would restore peace and the economic fortunes of the
North.
El-kanemi, said that amnesty for Boko Haram
members would restore peace and the economic fortunes of the
North.
El-kanemi stated this while briefing journalists at
the opening of the 2nd Borgu International Gani-Durbar Festival in New Bussa,
Niger State.
the opening of the 2nd Borgu International Gani-Durbar Festival in New Bussa,
Niger State.
According to him, the people of the North are optimistic that
the amnesty will bring an end to the violence in the North.
the amnesty will bring an end to the violence in the North.
He said, “We are happy that the President has deemed
it appropriate to set up a committee to work out the modalities for the
process.You know we have been talking about the amnesty for long. We came out
with the suggestion before. But we are happy that the Federal Government has
agreed with our proposal.
it appropriate to set up a committee to work out the modalities for the
process.You know we have been talking about the amnesty for long. We came out
with the suggestion before. But we are happy that the Federal Government has
agreed with our proposal.
“We are happy that a committee had been set up and we are
waiting for the Federal Government. We understand that in a few weeks, the
report will be submitted.’’
waiting for the Federal Government. We understand that in a few weeks, the
report will be submitted.’’
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said it
is not favourably disposed to joining issues with Boko Haram
over its rejection of amnesty.
is not favourably disposed to joining issues with Boko Haram
over its rejection of amnesty.
A competent top government official, who disclosed
this said the thinking in government circle was that it was
not right to engage the sect in a media war.
this said the thinking in government circle was that it was
not right to engage the sect in a media war.
“We have seen the report. We are not going to engage the
sect in the media. We will just wait patiently and see how it plays out,”
he said.
sect in the media. We will just wait patiently and see how it plays out,”
he said.
Source: Punch
