RIGHT or WRONG? FG to grant Amnesty for Boko Haram Members

       Federal Government yesterday approved the White Paper of the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East Zone.

The Committee which was set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the Boko Haram crisis, last year, had amongst other things recommended dialogue with Boko Haram on the renunciation of violence.

Government yesterday said in keeping with its plans for peace not only in the north, but in other parts of the country, said it has approved the reports of the Committee that drafted the white paper headed by Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku said this formed part of the deliberations of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which met at the presidential villa, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan in State House on Wednesday,'

The report of the Presidential Committee led by Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari was submitted to the President last September, recommending at the time that the federal government should consider the option of dialogue once the Boko Haram sect renounced all forms of violence.

Maku who briefed alongside his Interior counterpart, Abba Moro, told State House correspondents that the content of the White Paper would not be disclosed until it has become a gazette by the Justice Ministry.

Maku said the White Paper covered most of the areas the committee had touched in the report and most of its recommendations have been accepted by government.

The committee had recommended the renunciation of all forms of violence by the Islamic sect to enable the Federal government to commence negotiation with it.

The report had recommended that "the federal Government should fundamentally, consider the option of dialogue and negotiation which should be contingent upon the renunciation of all forms of violence and surrender of arms to be followed by a rehabilitation programme on the side of government.

"The federal government should create an informal forum at the highest level, where Mr. President will discuss national security issues with governors and other stakeholders from time to time. Again, there is an urgent need for arranging an informal forum where Mr. President will grant audience to each state governor on one-to-one basis where issues on security, could be addressed.

"The federal government should diversify and strengthen its means of creating avenues for international intelligence sharing and inter-agency cooperation through diplomatic channels/pacts.

"The committee had also recommended that government at all levels should, as a matter of priority initiate and design appropriate programmes to address the issue of unemployment in the zone, saying that it was of the view that the ongoing trial of police officers linked to the murder of Mohammed Yusuf, the sect leader and some of his followers should be expedited and publicized to convince the public of government's sincerity on the matter.

"The federal government and Borno State government should ensure that human and organizational victims, most especially, churches and mosques including schools, which were destroyed during the religious crisis in the past and even in the recent past, should be compensated monetarily and by way of resuscitating and reconstructing their properties. Survivors of the deceased victims should be compensated appropriately."

The committee also urged government to consider the scope of the present assignment to cover all security challenges facing the nation, saying that this view was informed by comments, suggestions and counsel made by many concerned individuals to the committee in the course of interactions with stakeholders including the governors of Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Niger and Sokoto States.

"Therefore government may consider constituting another committee with wider power and with an increased membership to handle the assignment within a reasonable timeframe but not weeks as was given to this committee. The committee's power should include dialogue and negotiation with the Ja'amatus Ahlus Sunnah Lid Daawatis Wal Jihad (Boko Haram) who have to our understanding, indicated their desire to have the sultan of Sokoto or his representatives as well as the Emir of Bauchi and Sheik Abubakar Gero Argungu as part of any such new committee," the committee posited.

Federal Government also yesterday said it was considering concessioning of major projects as a means of attracting investors in the development of infrastructures.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said FEC took the decision, following the presentation of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) headed by Dr. Mansur Ahmed.

He said Council took a great interest in the report of the ICRC, because Mr. President is interested in it and had directed the MDAs to prepare for the Private Public Partnership which he said is the sure way to attract investors into the country.


http://allafrica.com/stories/201203080571.html

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Posted: at 8-03-2012 12:55 PM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac

who say boko haram oga no dey aso rock. They need amnesty. What does an average graduate now need, okada abi?. Goodluck carry on. Very soon 150million nigerians including the presidency will be collecting amnesty.

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Posted: at 8-03-2012 01:34 PM (12 years ago) | Newbie

I totally disagree wit FG to grant those Idiots amnesty. Amnesty on what ground since no one knws what they re agitating for? Pure rubbish!

Posted: at 8-03-2012 01:58 PM (12 years ago) | Hero

the set of people ruling nigeria are senseless, so i dont expect any sence from what the decide. One thing i am so happy about is we are all going to die someday. Amnesty mama yash. U will over 150 million nigerians amnesty. I think its just bombing for no cause. Very soon National Association of Unemployed Graduates will commence their own.

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Posted: at 8-03-2012 02:19 PM (12 years ago) | Newbie

 

Posted: at 26-03-2013 11:30 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac