Boko Haram: Reps Member Backs Jonathan’s Stance On Amnesty

[TGD]

 MEMBER representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Bitrus Kaze, has congratulated President Jonathan on his refusal to grant amnesty to the Boko Haram sect in the North.

Kaze had earlier joined many Nigerians in condemning calls on the Federal Government by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III and the Northern Governors' Forum to grant amnesty to Boko Haram members.

In a statement Kaze personally signed in Jos Saturday, he said: "Coming at a time when security reports from terrorists' training camps in Mali have established links between Boko Haram and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the advocacy for amnesty in favour of Boko Haram offends the Nigerian Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011, which provides for effective implementation of the several International Conventions on the Prevention, Financing and Combating of Terrorism to which Nigeria is a signatory.

"The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. President Jonathan has an obligation to enforce all international conventions on terrorism, none of which provides for amnesty to terrorists.

"The Boko Haram Islamic fundamentalists themselves have never sought for amnesty. Why should the Sultan and the Northern Governors Forum cry more than the bereaved?

"Just last week, the Boko Haram leader, Sheik Shekau claimed responsibility for perpetrating terrorism and staunchly denied any relationship with Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdulazeez, who pronounced a ceasefire. All this while, both the Sultan and the Northern Governors' Forum have consistently maintained that Boko Haram and their sponsors are faceless. How come they are now advocating amnesty for people they do not know?"



The Guardian