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.
Source: Tribune
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