ABUJA —
CHRISTIAN leaders, yesterday, opposed the Federal Government’s plan to offer
unconditional amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect, describing it as a
misplaced priority and an unjust cause.
CHRISTIAN leaders, yesterday, opposed the Federal Government’s plan to offer
unconditional amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect, describing it as a
misplaced priority and an unjust cause.
This came
even as there is skepticism within the military circle that the amnesty will
work out, adding that it may turn out to be a colossal failure and the
Federal Government may end up embarrassing itself over its non workability.
even as there is skepticism within the military circle that the amnesty will
work out, adding that it may turn out to be a colossal failure and the
Federal Government may end up embarrassing itself over its non workability.
The
Christian leaders asked the government to take urgent steps to compensate and
resettle victims of Boko Haram attacks instead of wasting time and resources on
a matter that would not yield any positive results at the end of the day.
Christian leaders asked the government to take urgent steps to compensate and
resettle victims of Boko Haram attacks instead of wasting time and resources on
a matter that would not yield any positive results at the end of the day.
According to
the leaders, the Federal Government was committing a suicide mission by
attempting to appease the sect members without their readiness to surrender
arms and seek peace with the rest of the society.
the leaders, the Federal Government was committing a suicide mission by
attempting to appease the sect members without their readiness to surrender
arms and seek peace with the rest of the society.
They also
stated that granting amnesty to the sect would amount to injustice and encouragement
to other criminally-minded groups to strike and seek reward from the
government.
stated that granting amnesty to the sect would amount to injustice and encouragement
to other criminally-minded groups to strike and seek reward from the
government.
The Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr Sunday Ola
Makinde, in an exclusive interview with Vanguard was
of the opinion that granting amnesty to the sect was like putting the cart
before the horse and a step in the wrong direction.
Makinde, in an exclusive interview with Vanguard was
of the opinion that granting amnesty to the sect was like putting the cart
before the horse and a step in the wrong direction.
Makinde
noted: “They are talking about amnesty without saying anything about their
victims. They are still killing people even as the government is fine-tuning
ways for amnesty.
noted: “They are talking about amnesty without saying anything about their
victims. They are still killing people even as the government is fine-tuning
ways for amnesty.
“I am not
comfortable with the government’s decision because they are putting the cart
before the horse. Why can’t we first of all dialogue with these people and find
out their grievances? The only thing that I read in the paper is that they want
to Islamize Nigeria; we know that there are other grievances, which should be
known before amnesty is given by the government.
comfortable with the government’s decision because they are putting the cart
before the horse. Why can’t we first of all dialogue with these people and find
out their grievances? The only thing that I read in the paper is that they want
to Islamize Nigeria; we know that there are other grievances, which should be
known before amnesty is given by the government.
“Then,
before amnesty is granted we want to know what they will do for the family of
the widows and widowers, their places they have destroyed, what are they going
to do for the victims and so on. Amnesty is not the issue now, but how to
ameliorate the suffering of the victims.
before amnesty is granted we want to know what they will do for the family of
the widows and widowers, their places they have destroyed, what are they going
to do for the victims and so on. Amnesty is not the issue now, but how to
ameliorate the suffering of the victims.
“So, setting
up any committee for amnesty without first looking into how the victims could
be compensated is injustice, and if there is no justice there will be no peace.
up any committee for amnesty without first looking into how the victims could
be compensated is injustice, and if there is no justice there will be no peace.
Source: Punch
