The
President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has said
it will be an act of wickedness, if President Goodluck Jonathan declares
amnesty for Boko Haram.
Oritsejafor said the pardon could only be granted when members
of the sect admitted their wrongdoings. He queried what would be the fate of
the victims of the sect’s insurgencies, should its members be allowed to escape
prosecution.
While addressing journalists at the 80th birthday ceremony of
the President, Apostolic Church of Nigeria, Pastor Gabriel Oladele Olutola, in
Lagos, the CAN president warned that Jonathan should not toy with the future of
Nigeria by trading off its security on the altar of politics.
He said, “I don’t know his ambition for second term because I am
not a politician; I am a pastor. But that (amnesty) would be wicked. I don’t
see why he would have to do that and I don’t see why he would have to consider
that because we are facing a very serious situation in Nigeria.
“Let us not turn this situation into politics. Let’s face it for
what it is. The security of the people is the number one responsibility of the
President. And I think at this point, Jonathan must wake up and just face it
and do what he has to do. But these people who are putting pressure on him left
and right, may God help them and deliver Nigeria from their hands. Nigeria I
believe would be safe.”
He said the claim that poverty was the cause of the insurgency
was not true. He queried where the sect got funds to acquire weapons and why it
attacked churches and schools. He added that those who made the claim might
have connections with the sect.
He argued that the insurgency should not be likened to Niger
Delta militancy. According to him, the Niger Delta militants fought for their
neglect and survival. He added that their leaders came to the public to make
their grievances known.
“The reality is that you cannot equate those two instances. How
many mosques were burnt in Warri or Port Harcourt? Can you tell me one? Young
boys didn’t come on the streets to start shooting and killing people in the
market. I’m from Warri, the Central Mosque is in the centre of our town. It has
been there all these years. Nobody touched it.”
He said northern leaders should have emulated South-South
leaders by identifying leaders of the sect and leading them to Jonathan to seek
amnesty. He said the amnesty, if declared, would be like putting the cart
before the horse.
The CAN boss carpeted Sheikh Abubakar Gumi over his Facebook
comment on Jesus Christ. He called on the government to call the Islamic
scholar and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nasir
El-Rufai, to order over their alleged incitements.
Gumi had reportedly said in the post that Jesus did not die
after his crucifixion but only went into coma.
Source: Punch
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