Topic: Boko Haram: Jonathan Sets Up Amnesty Committee  (Read 1473 times)

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Boko Haram: Jonathan Sets Up Amnesty Committee
« on: April 05, 2013, 07:27:23 AM »


As exclusively reported by LEADERSHIP yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a committee within the National Security Council (NSC) to commence the process of granting amnesty to members of the Jama’atul Ahlus Sunnah Lidda’awati wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram.

As also reported exclusively by this paper, Jonathan, at the presidential villa, Abuja, meeting  yesterday with security chiefs in the country, which all the service chiefs attended, directed the committee to submit its report to the National Security Council (NSC) within two weeks.

A dependable source at the meeting held in the president’s office told LEADERSHIP that the terms of reference for the committee, as handed down by Jonathan, include “considering the feasibility of the amnesty request and exploring other options in addressing terrorism in the country.

According to the source who craved anonymity, “The whole meeting centred on the issue of Boko Haram, including the clamour for the granting of amnesty to the members of the sect in response to the clamour and respect for public opinion.

The terms of reference of the committee are to collate clamours arising from different interest groups, which want the government to administer clemency for members of the religious sect, and to recommend modalities for the granting of amnesty.”

But the source, who refused to name members of the committee for security reasons, hinted that the committee is to work with the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), after which its report will be presented to the National Security Council in the next two weeks when the council is expected to meet.

The meeting between the president and the security chiefs was sequel to a meeting between Jonathan with the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Wednesday night at the first lady’s wing of the presidential villa, in which he told the elders led by Maitama Sule that he would convene a security meeting the following day.

The source at the security meeting yesterday further told LEADERSHIP that “if amnesty is eventually considered as an option, the committee is also expected to make recommendations regarding the modalities to be employed in handing the amnesty.

“The president had never at all ruled out the issue of amnesty as an option to the process to achieving peace in the country, especially in the northern region.

The president had said amnesty cannot be granted to people that are faceless and that the members of the group must come out of their masks, make their identities known before the option of amnesty could be considered”, he further said in defence of Jonathan.

But the security chiefs who came for the National Security Council meeting yesterday refused  to address the State House Correspondents.

On sighting the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammed  Abubakar, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki and the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ibrahim Ola Sa’ad, journalists first approached Ola Sa’ad for his comment but the defence chief, simply put his finger across his mouth, a gesture that he was not willing to tell them anything.

He subsequently jumped into his already waiting vehicle and zoomed off.

IGP Abubakar, who came after the service chiefs and the NSA had left, dramatically sandwiched himself between his orderlies, and walked briskly towards his car.

When journalists insisted he spoke to them on what had transpired, the police boss simply referred them to the NSA and then hopped into his car.

It was the minister of State for Defence, Mrs Olusola Obada,  who offered to speak to journalists.

She said: “The meeting was about the insecurity in the country and what we can do to ensure that it is brought to the barest minimum.

Some issues meant to ameliorate the situation were discussed.”

LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported yesterday that President Jonathan had, at the meeting with the NEF on Wednesday night, hinted that he would yesterday set up an amnesty commission to fine- tune details of the clemency instrument for the sect’s members.

Former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof Ango Abdullahi,  had after the meeting, disclosed that the president’s response to the call for amnesty at the meeting was positive, which was sequel to the one held between the president and the NEF in May last year, and that he had assured the NEF delegation that the amnesty for the insurgents would be tabled before the security meeting yesterday.

Information minister, Labaran Maku, also confirmed Abdullahi’s declaration that the president never rejected amnesty, even as he clarified that president called for some structures to be in place, just like in the case of Niger Delta, before the amnesty option is fully explored.

The minister further explained that the insurgents need to come forward before the dialogue that would lead to the amnesty programme is put in place.

The meeting between Jonathan and NEF on Wednesday night was sequel to the one held in May 2012, in which the northern elders submitted a memorandum to the president.

Jonathan had assured them then that he would study the memorandum and invite them back for further discussions on issues they had raised.

President Jonathan’s declaration early March this year in Borno and Yobe had elicited a lot of mixed reactions, with most prominent citizens from the Northern region accusing president of insensitivity to the plight of people from the region who had suffered great losses due to the gruesome activities of the sect.

Nigeria is in sorry state – Abdulsalami

Former military Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, has said that Nigeria is in a sorry state and requires urgent rescue going by the spectre of insecurity and wanton destruction of lives and property across the country.
Abubakar spoke at the Nigerian High Commission in London yesterday.

He added that the country was faced with a lot of distractions that were capable of dissuading prospective investors from investing in the country, noting that criminals had seized the opportunity and attributed every attack to the activities of Boko Haram.
“Insecurity is a problem which affects everybody, including investors.

The kidnapping of people is also another threat, as no investor would like to go to a place where lives are not treasured or secured.

Therefore, we need to assure them and clear the cankerworm without leaving it to the security agents alone,” he said.




Read more: http://kaaf.com/2013/04/Boko-Haram-Jonathan-Sets-Up-Amnesty-Committee-325604

 

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