The
National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Chief of Defence
Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, and a representative of the State Security
Service (SSS), among others, have been named as members of the amnesty
committee on Boko Haram, set up by President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday to
consider the feasibility of granting clemency to the group.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Chief of Defence
Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, and a representative of the State Security
Service (SSS), among others, have been named as members of the amnesty
committee on Boko Haram, set up by President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday to
consider the feasibility of granting clemency to the group.
Jonathan, sources informed THISDAY, may have finally bowed to
pressure to consider granting amnesty to members of the Islamic terrorist
group, which informed his decision to set up the committee within the National
Security Council (NSC).
pressure to consider granting amnesty to members of the Islamic terrorist
group, which informed his decision to set up the committee within the National
Security Council (NSC).
The establishment of the
committee was the fallout of a series of consultations which the president had
with major stakeholders preparatory to taking a decision on the issue.
The first leg of the consultation began on Wednesday when Jonathan met with
some northern leaders under the aegis of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) at the
State House, Abuja.
committee was the fallout of a series of consultations which the president had
with major stakeholders preparatory to taking a decision on the issue.
The first leg of the consultation began on Wednesday when Jonathan met with
some northern leaders under the aegis of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) at the
State House, Abuja.
He followed this up yesterday with a meeting of the NSC, which
discussed the activities of the Islamic terror group and how to end the
security siege on the nation.
discussed the activities of the Islamic terror group and how to end the
security siege on the nation.
The president had spurned calls for amnesty for Boko Haram
members who have unleashed a reign of terror on the country since 2009, saying
he would not have anything to do with the group until its leaders unmasked
themselves.
members who have unleashed a reign of terror on the country since 2009, saying
he would not have anything to do with the group until its leaders unmasked
themselves.
Jonathan, during his historic two-day visit to Yobe and Borno
States last month, the epicentre of Boko Haram’s terrorist attacks, had
rejected the campaign for amnesty for the sect, championed by Sultan of Sokoto,
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu
Tambuwal, among other influential northerners.
States last month, the epicentre of Boko Haram’s terrorist attacks, had
rejected the campaign for amnesty for the sect, championed by Sultan of Sokoto,
Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu
Tambuwal, among other influential northerners.
He said the federal government would not grant amnesty to
“ghosts” or enter into dialogue with leaders of the terror group except they
were ready to show their faces in public.
“ghosts” or enter into dialogue with leaders of the terror group except they
were ready to show their faces in public.
But a source said following the meetings with the NEF and NSC,
the president decided to establish the committee that would recommend the
feasibility of granting amnesty to Boko Haram members and work out the
modalities to be adopted if the federal government decides to do so.
the president decided to establish the committee that would recommend the
feasibility of granting amnesty to Boko Haram members and work out the
modalities to be adopted if the federal government decides to do so.
The committee members, he added, would work closely with the
Office of the NSA and is expected to submit its report to the president when
the council meets again within a fortnight.
Office of the NSA and is expected to submit its report to the president when
the council meets again within a fortnight.
The terms of reference of the committee are: to consider the
feasibility or otherwise of granting amnesty to the Boko Haram adherents; to
collate the clamour arising from different interest groups who want the federal
government to administer clemency on members of the religious sect; and to
recommend the modalities for granting the amnesty, if necessary.
feasibility or otherwise of granting amnesty to the Boko Haram adherents; to
collate the clamour arising from different interest groups who want the federal
government to administer clemency on members of the religious sect; and to
recommend the modalities for granting the amnesty, if necessary.
The source clarified that the president during his visits to
Borno and Yobe States did not foreclose amnesty for the sectarians.
Borno and Yobe States did not foreclose amnesty for the sectarians.
Rather, he added, Jonathan had made references to why it would
be difficult for his administration to grant amnesty to the insurgents, because
past efforts were frustrated by claims and counter claims by various groups
posturing as the original Boko Haram, whose leadership is not known to the
government.
be difficult for his administration to grant amnesty to the insurgents, because
past efforts were frustrated by claims and counter claims by various groups
posturing as the original Boko Haram, whose leadership is not known to the
government.
He explained that the president was reconsidering his stance on
the matter following the heated debate it had generated.
the matter following the heated debate it had generated.
Earlier, former Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU),
Prof. Ango Abdullahi, after the session of the northern elders with the
president on Wednesday night, had told State House correspondents that various
options were considered on how to respond to the state of the insecurity Boko
Haram had foisted on the north.
Prof. Ango Abdullahi, after the session of the northern elders with the
president on Wednesday night, had told State House correspondents that various
options were considered on how to respond to the state of the insecurity Boko
Haram had foisted on the north.
He said the president remained non-committal during the meeting
and told the northern leaders that he would have to consult extensively with
various stakeholders before he could decide.
and told the northern leaders that he would have to consult extensively with
various stakeholders before he could decide.
Among the stakeholders the president plans to consult are
security chiefs, Christian leaders, governors, the National Assembly leadership
and some selected leaders nationwide.
security chiefs, Christian leaders, governors, the National Assembly leadership
and some selected leaders nationwide.
Abdullahi also said the president was contemplating the options
open to him, adding: “I’m sure something substantial will come out of that
meeting.”
open to him, adding: “I’m sure something substantial will come out of that
meeting.”
According to him, they impressed it on the president that the
issue of amnesty to the Islamic sect should be reviewed and considered in “what
the government is trying to do to overcome the violence that is taking place
all over the country or most part of the north.
issue of amnesty to the Islamic sect should be reviewed and considered in “what
the government is trying to do to overcome the violence that is taking place
all over the country or most part of the north.
“Fortunately, the president is
already thinking very hard about it and I think he assured us that there is a
special meeting on the matter tomorrow (thursday).
“The contention here is that the country is facing challenges. This is the
greatest challenge the country is facing today and we did spend a lot of time
discussing the various issues on security matters.”
already thinking very hard about it and I think he assured us that there is a
special meeting on the matter tomorrow (thursday).
“The contention here is that the country is facing challenges. This is the
greatest challenge the country is facing today and we did spend a lot of time
discussing the various issues on security matters.”
Also, briefing reporters at the end of the Wednesday meeting,
the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, confirmed that the meeting
discussed the security situation in the country.
the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, confirmed that the meeting
discussed the security situation in the country.
“The Northern Elders Forum
brought the position that they believe government should consider amnesty for
the insurgents in the Northern part of the country.
“They believe that it is the position that most northern elders presently hold
to enable them exercise some influence in the process of achieving peace in the
northern part of the country.
brought the position that they believe government should consider amnesty for
the insurgents in the Northern part of the country.
“They believe that it is the position that most northern elders presently hold
to enable them exercise some influence in the process of achieving peace in the
northern part of the country.
“The president said government
had never said there would be no amnesty but that there must be a process and
structure if amnesty is to succeed,” the minister said.
As a follow up to his meeting with the northern leaders, yesterday’s meeting
between the president and his security chiefs also discussed the issue of
amnesty for Boko Haram in view of the controversy the campaign has stirred
among various stakeholders.
had never said there would be no amnesty but that there must be a process and
structure if amnesty is to succeed,” the minister said.
As a follow up to his meeting with the northern leaders, yesterday’s meeting
between the president and his security chiefs also discussed the issue of
amnesty for Boko Haram in view of the controversy the campaign has stirred
among various stakeholders.
THISDAY learnt that at the meeting with the security chiefs,
which held at the State House, various suggestions on how to tackle insecurity
proffered by the northern leaders were thoroughly analysed and their
implications considered.
which held at the State House, various suggestions on how to tackle insecurity
proffered by the northern leaders were thoroughly analysed and their
implications considered.
A source told THISDAY that even though the security chiefs were
sympathetic to the president, in view of the political pressure he was faced
with, they were sceptical at the workability of the options put forward by the
northern leaders.
sympathetic to the president, in view of the political pressure he was faced
with, they were sceptical at the workability of the options put forward by the
northern leaders.
The source said, for instance, since none of the northern
leaders agreed to having direct contact with Boko Haram leader, Sheik Abu
Shekau, they could not be certain that granting amnesty to the insurgents would
make them embrace peace.
leaders agreed to having direct contact with Boko Haram leader, Sheik Abu
Shekau, they could not be certain that granting amnesty to the insurgents would
make them embrace peace.
Besides, he said amid claims
that some militants were willing to denounce violence, intelligence reports had
shown that the terrorists were divided on the issue.
The security chiefs were said to have expressed concern that given the lack of
consensus among the insurgents, those not willing to embrace the amnesty could
still continue with the insurgency.
that some militants were willing to denounce violence, intelligence reports had
shown that the terrorists were divided on the issue.
The security chiefs were said to have expressed concern that given the lack of
consensus among the insurgents, those not willing to embrace the amnesty could
still continue with the insurgency.
The NSC meeting ended without
any statement or briefing by any of the service chiefs, including the
Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar and Dasuki.
But a source at the meeting said that amnesty for the Islamist insurgents was
part of the issues discussed, but he did not give details of the deliberations
at the meeting.
any statement or briefing by any of the service chiefs, including the
Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar and Dasuki.
But a source at the meeting said that amnesty for the Islamist insurgents was
part of the issues discussed, but he did not give details of the deliberations
at the meeting.
He added that the meeting, which also considered matters arising
from the work of the Presidential Committee on Police Reform, discussed the
issue of insecurity in the country and looked at ways to end the siege.
from the work of the Presidential Committee on Police Reform, discussed the
issue of insecurity in the country and looked at ways to end the siege.
“It is just a way of tackling this insecurity and seeing what we
can do to ensure that it is reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.
can do to ensure that it is reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.
THISDAY further learnt that the military top brass were rather
coy over the question of amnesty for Boko Haram members.
coy over the question of amnesty for Boko Haram members.
The service chiefs, it was
gathered, were wary of setting a dangerous precedent and felt that the federal
government should not negotiate from the position of weakness.
“An amnesty is already on the table but with conditions, and the president has
the final say in this situation.
gathered, were wary of setting a dangerous precedent and felt that the federal
government should not negotiate from the position of weakness.
“An amnesty is already on the table but with conditions, and the president has
the final say in this situation.
“The military stance is that when Boko Haram lay down their
arms, come into open, renounce violence and observe ceasefire for a period of
time, the federal government can then negotiate for amnesty,” a defence source
said.
arms, come into open, renounce violence and observe ceasefire for a period of
time, the federal government can then negotiate for amnesty,” a defence source
said.
But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday pledged to
support the position of the president on granting amnesty to Boko Haram
members.
support the position of the president on granting amnesty to Boko Haram
members.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, explained that
the party would support Jonathan on the issue because as the president, he
would always take a position that would engender peace in the country.
the party would support Jonathan on the issue because as the president, he
would always take a position that would engender peace in the country.
He said the president was not against the amnesty for the
Islamic militants, but there were conditions that must be met to avoid the
mistakes that were made when amnesty was granted to the Niger Delta militants.
Islamic militants, but there were conditions that must be met to avoid the
mistakes that were made when amnesty was granted to the Niger Delta militants.
However, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday
criticised northern leaders calling for amnesty for Boko Haram, describing
their calls as insensitive to the plight of terror victims.
criticised northern leaders calling for amnesty for Boko Haram, describing
their calls as insensitive to the plight of terror victims.
CAN Secretary General, Reverend Musa Asake, stated this when he
led other members to Takard District of Kaura Local Government Area, Kaduna
State, where no fewer than 20 people were reportedly killed when gunmen invaded
two villages in the area.
led other members to Takard District of Kaura Local Government Area, Kaduna
State, where no fewer than 20 people were reportedly killed when gunmen invaded
two villages in the area.
Addressing the 5,200 people displaced following the invasion at
the Model Primary School in Fadan Attakar, where they are camped, Asake said it
was unfortunate that northern elders are calling for amnesty for perpetrators
of heinous crimes rather than demanding their prosecution.
the Model Primary School in Fadan Attakar, where they are camped, Asake said it
was unfortunate that northern elders are calling for amnesty for perpetrators
of heinous crimes rather than demanding their prosecution.
He said the call was an outright
display of insensitivity to the thousands of victims who had either died, were
maimed or displaced because of the activities of a group of dissidents.
He said: “Here are innocent people driven from their homes and displaced from
their loved ones for no crime. That is why I consider the northern elders
calling for amnesty for Boko Haram members as insensitive.
display of insensitivity to the thousands of victims who had either died, were
maimed or displaced because of the activities of a group of dissidents.
He said: “Here are innocent people driven from their homes and displaced from
their loved ones for no crime. That is why I consider the northern elders
calling for amnesty for Boko Haram members as insensitive.
“While many people, some of whom are women and children, are
deprived of their breadwinners, somebody, somewhere who does not know how to
live without security is saying give amnesty to some faceless individuals.
deprived of their breadwinners, somebody, somewhere who does not know how to
live without security is saying give amnesty to some faceless individuals.
“It is unfair and these are the so called educated elite in the
north who would not even visit and see what is happening.”
north who would not even visit and see what is happening.”
Source: Thisday
