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Tag: amnesty

  • Government and Boko Haram amnesty

    On the 24th of April, 2013, the Federal Government of Nigeria inaugurated committee to work on security menace in the northern part of the country and come out with a blueprint on how amnesty will be fashioned out for Boko Haram – an Islamic sect that is constituting a threat to our national security in spites of oppositions from well meaning Nigerians.

    From all indications, amnesty can be described as a situation whereby government of any given society agrees not to punish people who committed a particular crime and who have agreed to surrender their weapons to the authority and show their readiness to embrace dialogue and to be reabsorbed into the society as law abiding citizens.

    Going by the above definitions, Boko Haram group does not merit amnesty, Nigerian government is planning to negotiate with them. In the first instance, the so called amnesty is going to be sponsored by tax payers money which supposed to be spent on welfare and security of the citizens. Also, considering the aims and objectives of Boko Haram, one can authoritatively conclude that amnesty and Boko Haram are poles apart; or better still the two parallel lines that can never meet.

    Despite appeals from government, traditional rulers, Muslims and Christians communities, Boko Haram remained adamant and reaffirmed that they are not interested in amnesty programme our government is proposing to offer them irrespective of what it may cost the whole nation and concluded that they are fighting just battles. The following utterances underscores this position. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau stated: “We are also at war with Christians because the whole world knows what they did to us”,adding that “the group’s successes in killing innocent civilians indicate they (i.e. Boko Haram) are on the right path.” Also one of their leaders once said that the kidnapping of the French Family was in revenge for the French invasion of northern Mali.

    From the foregoing, Nigerian government should not fail to recognise the fact that Boko Haram has foreign supports and unsevered relationship with radical group in northern Mali, Al Qa’ida, the movement for unity and Jihad in West Africa and Jama at Ansar Al – Muslimin fi Bilad Al Sudan (known as Ansaru). On this premise, Boko Haram can be described as Multi- national Islamic terrorist group which cannot be silenced by mere negotiation and monthly salary like Niger Delta militants. It is an indisputable fact that Nigeria as a nation has what it takes – cash to pay Boko Haram and to grant them pardon, but before the deal will be done, let Nigerians have a second thought on this turning issue.

    I want Nigeria government and the advocates of amnesty for Boko Haram to know that the background of militants in Niger Delta and what prompted their activities differ from Boko Haram vision and mission. At the same time, I want to assert that Nigeria has spent one hundred and fifty eight billion naira (158) to pay the so called reformed militants to secure oil pipelines, a duty that our security personnel are constitutionally meant to do. And while we are still chewing on that, government is proposing another amnesty for another killer group.

    It is a well known fact that Boko Haram target is divided into three: The Christians (largely Igbo) minorities in the north and central regions of the country, the Nigeria government, army and police and the Muslim political and religious elites in Northern Nigeria. To be factual, these three groups represent the whole nation. Hence, the representatives of these groups and other stakeholders as a matter of urgentcy should put heads together and map out strategic plan on how to put an end to the menace of Boko Haram in the north and the nation at large instead of embarking on expensive and dangerous negotiation of amnesty programme with Boko Haram. Boko Haram attacks have already tarnished Nigeria’s image internationally. Hence, the northern part of our country and the seat of power – federal capital territory, Abuja had been labelled by foreigners as environments not conducive for business transactions and this scares foreign investors away. If our image is going to be redeemed; if our security is going to be guaranteed, the shareholders need to stop politicising Boko Haram issue and bear it in mind that our nation’s security is greater than anybody’s political ambition.

    Moreover, our government should know that when things fall apart, the centre cannot hold. Proposing amnesty for Boko Haram at this point in time is like putting a square peg in a round hole. It would not work.

     

    By Olumide Aladejana,

    Lagos

     

  • Abuse of amnesty

    A peaceful society can be said to be priceless especially when there exist steady economic growth, law and order etc. People tend to migrate to such areas and in most cases become permanent residents. This was what the government of the late President Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua was trying to achieve when the idea of amnesty was first offered to the Niger-Delta militants. Nigerians have witnessed how effective the idea is.

    Before the discovery of crude oil in 1956, agriculture was the major source of generating revenue for the government. Amongst other crops, the different regions in the country were known to produce and export large quantities of its annual agricultural products. We had gigantic groundnut pyramids in the north and exportable quantities of oil palm and cocoa in the east and west respectively. The discovery of oil led to the somewhat total neglect of agriculture. Also neglected, were the communities where the oil exploitations have occurred in the past and present. For years, subsequent military government oppressed and suppressed the community elders and activists from the region in the midst of externally inflicted poverty as a result of destroying their primary means of livelihood; fishing, through water pollution. From history we know that humans tend to react (mostly violently) when pushed to the wall for too long. This led to what we now know as Niger-Delta militants and MEND.

    Unlike MEND, the Boko Haram insurgence has been bloody. Although the security agents have tried in their own way to see that this issue is brought to the barest minimum, the sect has been resilient. This is largely caused by the porous borders in the country. Nevertheless, the message the sect is trying to pass to the government cannot be considered in a time where nations are coming together to build a stronger economy. The truth is the country cannot be Islamised and Sharia law recognised. Our strength and beauty lies in our diversity, if only we can peacefully co-exist and harness this great potential. This is why socio-cultural organizations like Ndigbo Unity Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum and Odua People’s Congress etc need to continue to preach the need for peaceful coexistence.

    If the government can pay more attention to what is important, the high insecurity the nation is facing today would be efficiently nailed to the board.

     

    By Obinka Ugochukwu

    Director Planning and Research

    Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF).

     

  • ‘Amnesty can’t solve Boko Haram crisis’

    ‘Amnesty can’t solve Boko Haram crisis’

    What is your reaction to the proposed amnesty for the Boko Haram sect?

    To the best of my knowledge, the President has set up a committee on amnesty. I think what the President was trying to say is that he is inclined to listening to anybody who has any grievance and wish to come to the round table with him. He metaphorically said he could not dialogue with the ‘ghosts’, which simply means that anybody who has an issue or any link with them should come out and say Mr. XYZ or group XYZ are responsible for it.

    Look at the way they are killing people who are our brothers in the North. When I say our brothers, I mean they are our brothers, no matter what they do but I think it is not done, no matter what their grievances or what their agitation against the government might be. I believe that some of the goals they are pursuing may never be met by the government because I don’t know how the President can accept any agitation on the bases of what they described as western education as bad. In a nut shell, I think what the President is trying to say is that he will be willing to talk to anybody from any part of the country who is incline to tell him the agitation of the sect. From what we have seen, amnesty wont be able to address the Boko Haram problem.

    Suddenly, the Niger Delta militants are back on the street. What does that portend?

    These issues of sects are topical in my mind. That is why it was the first motion I moved in the House of Representatives when I got there. The intention of the late President Umaru Yar ‘Adua on the issue of amnesty was noble. I think recent events have shown that amnesty has not really done what we expected. What they claimed that is the problem must be systematically addressed. And I want to tell you that you cannot have a superficial solution to a systemic problem. For instance; it is not appropriate for one to buy Vaseline and be applying it on somebody who has boil on his body. So, I don’t think that the amnesty capsule, as a drug, has addressed the systemic health problems that is facing Niger Delta. What the figurative amnesty capsule has done so far now was to reduce the immediate pain of the Niger Delta problem but not to savage the region from where the problem is coming from. People have talked about the injustice of their resource control and I agree that it is one of the fundamental issues in the region. And I keep wondering, if they have drop all the weapon in their possession, what do they used to kill those 12 police men? In the days of the late Isaac Boro and the late Ken Sarowiwa, the duo did not have the coloration of personal benefit. They could have done a deal with Shell under the Late General Sani Abacha but they didn’t do that because they were concerned with the environment and their people. All of a sudden, the tenor changed. People who did not understand what the struggle was, ceased the opportunity to enrich themselves.

    How would you rate the Jonathan Administration?

    If I want to be fair with Mr. President, I’ll say he has not performed to the expectation because the bulk ends on his table. Nobody is going to blame any minister for the failure of the administration of President Jonathan. How many ministers in the regime of former President Obasanjo do we remember today? How many Director General and the ministers of the Late Umaru Yar ‘Adua do we remember today? The bulk ends on the table of the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, so he must take the responsibility and he must take charge. Now there are primary focus areas in which people can judge the performance of any administration. Jonathan should ask himself whether he has improved on power supply? I saw one minister on television who was saying we are to celebrate our power supply because we hit 4,000 mega watts in the nation of 160 million people. South Africa in four five years ago, with 40million people was having 40,000 mega watts of power and the minister knows that.

    How can we prevent budget failure?

    The legislators should rise up to the challenge. That is the only arm of government that is constitutionally empowered to ensure that appropriation is blend with the reality on ground. It is possible for the ministers and other executive to carry out their duties because 46 ministers will sit in their EXCO every Wednesday and what they will tell us after their sitting is that the Federal Government has awarded this project. Is it possible for 46 people to know Nigeria more than 360 legislators? It is reverse logic to think that the executive who are not up to 50 know Nigeria more than people who are elected from their various constituencies. Can anybody know Ikole Ekiti more than me? Every budget is a financial law and the constitution says if you break the law, it is impeachable offence and it is only the parliament that is capable of impeaching the President. So, Mr. President cannot be bigger than 160 million Nigerians.

    In your view, can the All Progressives Congress (APC) dislodge PDP in 2015?

    I am always modest with my evaluation. I know too well that with the kind of commitment of our leaders; like Asuwaju Bola Hamed Tinubu, General Muhamad Buhari (rtd) of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and other people in APGA and ANPP, the party is going places.

     

     

  • ‘Amnesty ‘ll end insurgency’

    ‘Amnesty ‘ll end insurgency’

    House of Representatives member Hon. Abiodun Awoleye (Ibadan North Constituency) spoke with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE on the security situation in the country and other issues.

     

    What is your view on the proposed amnesty by the Federal Government to the members of the Boko Haram?

    Amnesty programme was used to bring peace to the Niger Delta when the militants were terrorising the Southsouth. But Boko Haram is a new dimension. The people are aware that it is politically motivated. Therefore, I’ll like the federal government to grant them amnesty so that the North and other parts of the country can have peace and sleep with their two eyes closed because it has been spreading to the other parts of the country. So, amnesty will make them to come out physically for negotiation.

    You said the amnesty was given to the Niger Delta militants. But the militants are back on the street. Do you think amnesty is the solution?

    To a very large extent, the amnesty programme really works, most especially under the regime of the former Late President Umaru Yar ‘ Adua that actually initiated the programme, until this visionless present government came on board. To me, this administration does not have direction and that is what is really affecting the programme today.

    What is you assessment of the Jonathan Administration?

    Jonathan Administration is a total failure. All the promises made two years ago have not been fulfilled. Nigerians are not enjoying the dividends of democracy. Nothing works in Nigeria. Jonathan promised constant power supply, but what we have is worse than that. He promised good health care system, but is yet to fulfill it. He promised reforms in the education system, but education is getting bankrupt on the daily basis.

    Does APC has prospect?

    APC has come to stay. It is an intellectual property of the merging parties. I can authoritatively tell you that APC is the way out of the crises Nigerians are facing today. The All Patriotic Citizen is a fake. It will fail.Merger process has its procedure, which we have to follow. It will now be difficult for some sets of people to come out and frustrate the merger when we are still following the due process. We all know that the ruling PDP is behind all the hurdles. They cannot succeed because Nigerians know that the coming together of these three major parties is to salvage and rescue this collapsing nation from the PDP. I want to tell you that, with the kind of programmes we have, we will dislodge the PDO in 2015.

    What are the achievements of Governor Abiola Ajimobi that will make them vote for your party in 2015?

    We have done a lot of good works in the state. Let me start with the urban renewal programme. We have constructed many roads across the state. The beautification programme is also going on in the state. We can see massive construction of bridges and roads and the fly-overs will soon be commissioned. You can see the numbers of schools being renovated and equipped with new furniture so that the students can be comfortable. Extra-moral classes are organised for the students so that we can produce the best brains in Oyo State. We are tackling security through the ‘Operation Burst’. We have employed many youths in the civil service and TESCOM. We have employed 20,000 youths through ‘Yes-O Scheme’.

    What are your achievements as a legislator?

    The people of my constituency are enjoying my dynamic representation. A number of boreholes have been drilled for them. I have donated and installed a numbers of transformers for them. This is the second time I will beinfluencing the budget to favour of constituency and I have included many things in the budget. In my primary duty as a legislator, I have moved a number of motions, including the renovating and upgrading of the Ibadan Airport, which to the best of my knowledge, is going to be done because the fund has been earmarked for it.

  • Doubt over amnesty committee meeting with Kabiru Sokoto

    Doubt over amnesty committee meeting with Kabiru Sokoto

    The trial judge in the case involving a Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Umar (aka Kabiru Sokoto) has queried the authenticity of the report that members of the Amnesty Committee met with the accused in prison.

    Umar’s lawyer, Sherrif Okoh also criticized the claim, saying that his client was not only in court on the day the committee claimed to have met the suspect and others, he is not being held in prison.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola and Okoh expressed their views at the resumption of Umar’s trial, the alleged mastermind of the Christmas Day bombing of St Theresa Catholic Church Madalla, Niger State.

    The Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, also known as Amnesty Committee.

    Members had said recently that they met with members of the Boko Haram sect; including Kabiru Sokoto and that the meeting took place at the Kuje Minimum Security Prison, Abuja where members of the sect are being held.

    The judge said he was surprised to read reports that the Amnesty Committee said it visited and held meeting with Kabiru Sokoto at Kuje prison and sought to know if the report was true.

    “The accused person is supposed to be under the custody of the State Security Services (SSS) in fact he was in court from morning to evening. But the next day, the press reported that the Amnesty Committee said they visited and held meeting with Kabiru Sokoto in Kuje prison, this is funny, Justice Adeniyi noted.

    The defence lawyer, who spoke with reporters after the court proceedings said: “Our client has confided in us that he never met with the Amnesty Committee. Even on the said date of the purported meeting, Kabiru Sokoto was before Justice Ademola Adeniyi. So, we wonder where they met him” Umar’s lawyer said.

    The lawyer argued that his client has been under the custody of the SSS and expressed surprise that a high profile committee like the Amnesty Committee would come out and tell Nigerians that they met with the accused person at Kuje prison.

    “These members of the Amnesty Committee have been brandishing lies, it is very wrong of them to come and say they held meeting with Kabiru Sokoto; in fact, Kabiru has been under the SSS custody, he was not in Kuje prison; so it was a pure lie for a Committee of respected, eminent and dignified persons to say they held a meeting with our client” Okoh said.

    At the trial a prosecuting witness, identified as ABC told the court that the suspect had mentioned to him the names, Bashir Mohammed and Mukhtari Kafanchan as the people that carried out the Christmas Day blast.

    The witness, who was cross-examined by Okoh, said the blast was not a suicide bombing but a coordinated attack, which was perpetrated with the knowledge of the accused person.

    “The Madalla blast was not a executed by a suicide bomber. It emanated from a car parked at the passage way of the Church, which was detonated. “That was actually what happened and there were no charred remains of persons found in the car after the blast that suggested it was a suicide attack.”

    He said the accused person did not tell him that he parked the car. He maintained the accused person had knowledge of the said vehicle.

    The witness, who wore mask, also said, Umar, while being interrogated, said that the split in the hierarchy of the Boko Haram sect was caused by a N40 million donation and from which he allegedly got the sum of N500,000.00, with which he bought Quran and other books.

    Another prosecuting witness, identified as DEF, an SSS official, told the court how he led a team that rearrested Kabiru Sokoto in Sabon-Gida, Taraba State on February 10, 2012. He was led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Mrs Chioma Onuegbu.

    Under cross-examination by Okoh, the witness said he found one Nokia phone and six SIM cards with the accused man at the time he was re-arrested.

    The trial resumed on Friday.

  • Schlumberger partners Amnesty Office

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme has partnered Schlumberger Limited to train some of its delegates in oil drilling engineering.

    Schlumberger is the world’s largest oilfield services company, with approximately 120,000 employees representing more than 140 nationalities and working in more than 85 countries.

    It has principal offices in Houston, Paris, and The Hague.

    The first batch of 15 out of the 30 successful delegates was deployed on Friday to study Drilling Engineering at the Schlumberger Technologies, Melun, France.

    The training is expected to run for 42 weeks.

    At the pre-deployment orientation in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, urged the delegates to be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

    Kuku, who was represented by the Deputy Director (Procurement), Jaiyeola Tikolo, said the Amnesty Office considers the training very important because of the pedigree and global status of the company.

    “Always remember where you are coming from. The Federal Government has invested so much in you by sponsoring your training.

    “There is always a great reward for hard work. So you must be good ambassadors of your country,” Kuku said.

  • Boko Haram: Forgiveness, amnesty or appeasement?

    The whole issue of Boko Haram needs not be viewed purely from its religious angle. The current debate on amnesty or no amnesty mirrors the deception with which this deadly phenomenon has been treated by the political leadership. A mishandling of the issue of amnesty for Boko Haram has the potential of threatening the unity and peace of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is very worrisome to me as someone who loves and wishes to live in a peaceful, strong, united and prosperous Nigeria. Our lives and the future of Nigeria should not be mortgaged for political votes in the lure to service the ambition of politicians. Violence in any guise must never be glorified either by government, ethnic militias, Muslims or Christians.

    Jesus Christ the suffering servant and sovereign Lord modeled forgiveness to the undeserving. In that regard, extending forgiveness to Boko Haram in spite of all the atrocities they have committed against Nigerians whether Christians or Muslims should never be in doubt. This is what the bible teaches Christians to practice. Boko Haram’s reckless and senseless attacks on places of worship and killing thousands of innocent lives should never be sacrificed at the altar of political expediency. Forgiveness and Appeasement are not the same.

    Extending forgiveness to these killers is what my faith teaches me to do as a true believer and follower of Jesus Christ. Therefore the real concern for me is the current camouflage of appeasement disguised as amnesty and currently being contemplated for members of Boko Haram. What we have are killers who appear unrepentant. Pursuing amnesty without addressing the plight of the victims of Boko Haram attacks remains a dangerous political journey. Did Boko Haram ask for amnesty? So far based on the information available in the public domain, they have not asked for amnesty. In fact they have declared publickly that it is they who should grant the Nigerian Government amnesty and not the other way around. I have serious doubts with this step now being taken by the Federal Government. I fear the present move may be predicated on political exigency rather than seeking a genuine end to the on-going killings. I see a government lacking genuine convictions based on their past actions in addressing this violence.

    The government’s track record in addressing major crises and flash points of conflicts in Nigeria lacks focus and seriousness and frankly provides no convincing proof that the present move will produce the desired results. I sincerely hope that I will be proven wrong. There needs to be more determination on government’s part to end the Boko Haram crisis and other issues of insecurity like armed robbery and rampant kidnappings.

    The current political talk show and grand standing on amnesty or no amnesty for Boko Haram appears more as a dress rehearsal towards 2015. The issue of amnesty will surely become a political talking point ahead of the coming national elections in 2015. It is unfortunate and the Church must not allow herself to be deceived. The Church and the nation must never allow themselves to be sacrificed under a visionless leadership. We all desire to see an end to the Boko Haram crisis and Christians are committed in working towards this goal but we need a dependable government to realise this dream. Those who have orchestrated the grand call to government to grant amnesty to Boko Haram led by the Sultan of Sokoto have continued to shock Nigerians. Yet they have offered no credible approach to addressing the plight of the many victims of Boko Haram’s targeted attacks. Compensating them must not be seen as an act of favour but a duty the government needs to carry which may even be belated at this point. Ignoring the thousands who lost their lives and the properties destroyed which is running into billions of naira is deceit on display in the name of false benevolence.

    So what are we talking about? Why should the proponents of amnesty urge the government on the path of seeking fake solutions to a serious problem? This inadvertently may indirectly be sowing dangerous seeds for breeding and birthing more violent groups in future. If this turns out to be the case, it will sadly be condemning Nigerians to an endless circle of violence. This is systemic and institutionalized corruption as well as endemic injustice to those who feel marginalised by greedy politicians and unprincipled religious leaders who have sold their conscience.

    What is the guarantee that granting amnesty will bring an end to the current violence inspired by Boko Haram, who have in fact rejected any such offer in their initial reaction. What rigid conditions will Boko Haram set before “accepting” this offer of amnesty? What if they insist on Sharia law implementation as they had originally stated on 1st January 2012 when they issued a three day ultimatum asking all Christians to leave Northern Nigeria, including those who are indigenous in the area or those living in their ancestral homelands? Will the President of Nigeria ascent to such a demand?

    Will the Nigerian people go for this religious blackmail? Is it wise to embark on a journey to nowhere all in the name of politics? Certain normal procedures that should pre-cede amnesty have not been followed. Just as President (former) Olusegun Obasanjo could not wish away Sharia, instead of facing the problem headlong in 2000, he thought it could just ‘go away,’ similarly, President Jonathan Goodluck cannot just wish away the consequences posed by the Boko Haram violence without an intentional commitment to seek a just means of addressing it.

    It is a known fact world over that a government sets the tone of what she wants to see in society. A government that is decisively against violence will show it and vice versa. Christians will never succumb to the intimidation to impose Sharia rule over Northern Nigeria and not to talk of this all over Nigeria. Sharia clamor in a secular Nigeria represents a crazy manipulation of religion for political adventurism.

    May God protect His people and uphold His name as well as cause His love and glory to reign in Nigeria. Boko Haram does not have the final say neither the government of Nigeria but God Almighty. By God, Nigeria will rise again to be the nation on earth God intended her to become our many needless internal contradictions notwithstanding.

     

    Rev. Para-Mallam writes from Jos.

  • Insurgency: Is the Fed Govt’s amnesty option the way out?

    The constructive engagement option, recently adopted by the Federal Government to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency, has generated a lot of controversy.

    While some citizens welcome the option, others consider it incongruous to dialogue with a group earlier described as faceless.

    However, some analysts want the Federal Government to go ahead, saying that the dialogue option is not a “surrender or capitulation but a bold step in conflict resolution”.

    President Goodluck Jonathan on April 17 approved the constitution of a Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, to constructively engage key members of the Boko Haram sect in a dialogue.

    The 26-member committee was inaugurated by Jonathan on Wednesday, April 24.

    The analysts urge the president to go ahead with the programme, even though a faction of the Boko Haram sect said that they had committed no offence to warrant the need for an amnesty.

    Supporting the president’s action, Mr Ol?sa Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), said it was in the interest of the citizenry to make the country safe.

    “Some say, why should the government go through all this trouble, in view of Boko Haram’s record. But I disagree.

    “It is in our enlightened interest to make Nigeria stable. You sometimes stoop to gain,” he stated.

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) also hailed the decision of the president to set up a committee to dialogue with members of the sect.

    Mr Anthony Sani, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, said that the forum’s consistent position had always been that the insurgents be given amnesty to prepare grounds for negotiations with the group.

    He said it was only logical for the Federal Government to explore other options to tackle the Boko Haram issue since the use of force had so far failed.

    “This is what we have been canvassing; we have been saying that since the use of force has failed, why not use other options, the option of amnesty,’’ he said.

    Sani, however, called on the government to put in place a mechanism to guarantee the security of the insurgents, saying that without due assurance about their protection, the insurgents might be afraid to come out.

    “ACF is fully aware of the fact that amnesty may not automatically end terrorism, especially when we know that some hard liners may not accept the offer.

    “But it will most likely mark the beginning of a process that holds the promise of bringing the tragic situation to an end,” he added.

    Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, who also supported the amnesty programme, called on the 19 Northern states to support the programme.

    “President Goodluck Jonathan needs to be supported and encouraged by all Nigerians to succeed in the efforts aimed at finding solutions to the insecurity challenges,” he said.

    Aliyu, who said the proposed amnesty was a good step toward resolving the problem of insecurity, however, underscored the need to explore other avenues.

    He noted that there might be some international dimensions to the Boko Haram issue, urging the relevant authorities to look into that aspect.

    However, some stakeholders are not happy about the Federal Government’s decision to dialogue with members of the Boko Haram sect.

    For instance, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is not particularly happy about the amnesty option of the Federal Government in efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

    Mr Sunny Oibe, the Public Relations Officer of CAN (Northern states and Abuja), condemned the government’s dialogue option.

    “If the government has decided to set up a committee to consider granting amnesty to Boko Haram under the watchful eyes of the National Security Adviser without compensating the families of those who were killed, it then goes to show that something is fundamentally wrong with our society and government.

    “How can President Goodluck Jonathan, who, not long ago said that he could not grant amnesty to ghosts, now decides to set up a committee for amnesty?

    “During the administration of his boss, the late Umar Yar’Adua, he did not go about chasing the Niger Delta militants.

    “Rather, the citizens from the South-South region went and talked to their boys to lay down their arms and engage the government constructively.

    “If the government is not careful, this amnesty for Boko Haram will encourage insurgencies throughout the country,’’ Oibe noted

    Also, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, the former Archbishop of Lagos, advised the government to be cautious in handling the country’s security problems, stressing the need to allow justice to prevail.

    Okogie, who condemned the wanton destruction of lives and property by members of the Boko Haram sect, advised the president not to rush into granting amnesty to the sect’s members without considering the implications of the action.

    “I am not against considering amnesty if the situation warrants it. But as it is, on what basis are we calling for amnesty for Boko Haram?

    “We have to be cautious about the way we go about it. I have continued to ask these questions: Who are the members of this sect who thrive on human blood? Are they truly Nigerians? What exactly do they want?

    “Besides, how do we compensate all those who have lost their loved ones in the over two years of carnage? These are issues we need to address,” he stressed.

    Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Felix Omobude, the National President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), advised Jonathan to apply great caution in handling the amnesty option.

    He said government should be wary of giving the impression that “it is honouring criminals and criminality’’, adding that victims of Boko Haram should also be compensated.

    “The Federal Government should be more concerned with ways of compensating the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency; so as to mitigate their grief and demonstrate that the government also cares about them,” he added.

    Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political group, has also expressed some reservations on the government’s approach in tackling the insurgency.

    A leader of the group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, said that the group’s stand was based on the fallout of the amnesty that was earlier granted to the Niger Delta militants.

    “For instance, we agree that granting amnesty in the Niger Delta region per se is in order. However, we find it hard to defend the monumental abuse going on, especially among the elite managers of the scheme.

    “We are disturbed as to whether the scheme will bring a lasting peace, giving episodic restlessness still being experienced there.

    “Yet, we have created a set of emergency billionaires from the amnesty programme, while the conditions in the creeks virtually remain the same.

    “It is with this at the back of our mind that we have been so sceptical over the so-called amnesty for Boko Haram, which is a much more dangerous group than the Niger Delta insurgents who were known and whose demands were clear,” he said.

    Fasoranti insisted that it would amount to a tragedy for the country to embark on another money-sharing spree, all in the name of granting amnesty to another group “with all the blood that has been shed’’.

    Meanwhile, President Jonathan, on whose table the buck stops, has reiterated his determination to stop the excesses of the Boko Haram sect.

    He gave the assurance when he inaugurated the presidential committee mandated to facilitate a constructive engagement with members of the Boko Haram Sect

    “Nigerians are expecting this committee to perform magic and we pray that Allah should give you the wisdom to do so. This is because without peace, we cannot develop no matter how committed we are,’’ he said.

    The president charged members of the committee to establish a link with members of the Boko Haram sect, while developing a framework through which disarmament would take place.

    Jonathan also enjoined the committee to work out ways of granting amnesty to members of the sect, while developing a comprehensive victims’ support programme.

    “And as we try to address the issue of the Boko Haram, we must also comprehensively address the issues directly affecting the people,’’ he added.

    As there is no known alternative to peace; analysts stress the need for every Nigerian to join hands with the government in efforts to restore peace to the troubled parts of the country.

    “Government should also not take any action that will promote criminality and lawlessness,’’ they, however, warn.

     

  • Amnesty for Aba residents

    SIR: There was a time Aba, the Enyimba city and the commercial nerve center of Abia State was a no-go area in terms of insecurity, ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual killing and other related vices. The development brought almost to a halt all social, political, commercial and developmental activities in the town and even culminated to people relocating to other less violent areas for safety.

    However, the situation was later laid to rest by the intervention of the federal troops. Thanks to Governor Theodore Ahamefula Orji who initiated the move.

    Aba has been a wonderful and vibrant city since inception. In fact it was the envy of the neighbourhood states until after sometime when it became an eyesore as a result of infestation of dilapidated and moribund industries including myriad of deplorable roads. This pitiable situation made people’s lives unbearable and boring.

    Now normalcy has returned to the town the residents expect the rehabilitation of those moribund industries like: Aba Textile mills, Aba Metallurgical complex, Aba Glass Industry and many others including the reconstruction of the abandoned roads that was truncated as a result of the insecurity situation to continue in order to bring succor to their lives like other residents in the neighbourhood states.

    No doubt, the kidnap saga discouraged and diverted the state and federal governments attention from making the town a befitting edifice. But that notion should not linger so long.

    I therefore plead on behalf of Aba residents for amnesty as the town has been the pride of the state in particular and the nation in general. It should not be forgotten that Aba is the home of the former CAF champion, Enyimba Football Club and the site of Ariaria International market.

    President Goodluck Jonathan should help rebuild Aba

     

    • Nkemakolam Gabriel

    Port Harcourt

     

  • ….And amnesty is not the answer

    ….And amnesty is not the answer

    Abraham Lincoln got it right when he said “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves and under a just God cannot retain it.” Nigeria is now home to the world most despicable ogres that kill in the name of religion & education. Young boys and girls, men and women who congregate in places of worship in part of northern Nigeria transit in pieces to the grave beyond. While others end up being victims of permanent disability.

    It is in the news that those merchant of sudden death who specialise in transmuting birth certificates into death certificates via weapons of ‘mass destruction’ are on the verge of getting amnesty. Oh what a country!

    Even if they get the so-called amnesty from man, I doubt if they will ever get the real amnesty that cometh from God alone. To kill a man in the presence of his God in the mode of worship is not an expression of strength but of weakness and cowardice.

    I think the solution is not amnesty but a genuine renouncement of violence against citizen’s regardless of their faith. Granting amnesty to men who operate under the mask is nothing but an abuse of amnesty. Even the Lord, our God, identifies sinners before he forgives them of their sin. As at today, no body has come out to say he is a member, leader or sponsor of the deadly sect yet they claim they need amnesty. Amnesty from who? God, the devil or from Mr. President? All we know is that men in masks give press release threatening violence against innocent souls with religious inclination.

    Those who are calling for amnesty for men who kill in the name of religion and education should be courageous and fearless to also compel the group to lay down their weapons and embrace dialogue. They should be admonished to respect others, right to freedom of worship. We must learn to resist the temptation of using force to expand the boundaries of our faith.

    God bless Nigeria.

     

    G. O. Ehi

    Benin City.