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Babangida Aliyu: Time
is not ripe for amnesty
In its latest offensive against Boko Haram, the federal government has decided to officially declare the Islamic sect a "terrorist organisation", a designation it has shied away from labelling the group since it started its attacks in the country four years ago.
The decision by the
federal government coincided with the $7 million bounty offered by the United
States Government for the capture of the leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau,
and the declaration by the Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu,
that the time for amnesty for members of Boko Haram was not ripe.
THISDAY learnt
exclusively last night that the federal government was preparing to issue a
Proscription Order declaring the group a “terrorist organisation”, a
designation the Nigerian government had lobbied the US government not to use
when it froze the US-based assets belonging to Shekau and three other members
of the sect a year ago.
Disclosing this, an
official in the Ministry of Defence in Abuja said the Proscription Order would
be made by the federal government before the week runs out and was intended to
show its commitment to defeat Boko Haram and make Nigeria a secure country for
its people.
He welcomed the bounty
placed by the US on Shekau and other terrorists in West Africa, saying they
constitute a clear and present danger to the future of several countries in the
sub-region.
Also, in what may be
regarded as a departure from the position of several leaders of northern
extraction, Aliyu said that the time for amnesty for members of the terrorist
group, Boko Haram was not ripe, adding that the nation was in a defining period
where investigations should not be limited to the sect alone, but also to its
sponsors.
Making this known
yesterday in Minna, the Niger State capital, when the Presidential Committee on
Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North paid him a
courtesy call, Aliyu said: “We must go deeper than simple cosmetic changes in
our society. I want you to bring out the sponsors, because they don't mean well
for this country.”
Aliyu added that the
issues were beyond taking arms, noting that those who had not taken arms but
instigated people to do so are more dangerous than those who had taken arms.
In a veiled reference
to the crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of which he is a
member, the governor drew a parallel between the lack of internal democracy in
political parties and insecurity in the country, stating that there would be no
peace in the country if internal democracy is not entrenched in political
parties.
According to Aliyu, a
nation where people are always threatened would not bear fruits of peace,
observing that Nigerians expect a difference from what had obtained in the
military era.
“We keep making excuses for our military background but what
attempt are we making to see that we institute and entrench democracy in our
country because the political parties have no internal democracy apart from
threats and what have you.
“Apart from threats, you don't hear people negotiating and I thought politics was all about negotiation. But these days, people don't want to negotiate.
“Apart from threats, you don't hear people negotiating and I thought politics was all about negotiation. But these days, people don't want to negotiate.
“Those who think of only threat as a democratic principle should
have a rethink because we need to negotiate,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of the committee and Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, said the committee was on a nationwide tour to interact with stakeholders that would enable it proffer solutions to the insurgency.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of the committee and Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, said the committee was on a nationwide tour to interact with stakeholders that would enable it proffer solutions to the insurgency.
He debunked claims
that the imposition of emergency rule on three North-eastern states may stall
the activities of his committee, maintaining that the declaration had been of
tremendous assistance as it had encouraged people to come out and give
information to the security forces.
“Before the state of
emergency, people from the affected states were not confident to come out with information
but today we receive more information from the states.
“I can assure
Nigerians that the emergency rule cannot and is not going to affect the
committee's assignment,” Turaki said.
Source: Thisday
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