Since 2009 when Boko Haram insurgents commenced their siege on Nigeria, especially in the Northern parts of the country, things have never been the same again.
It is estimated that over 5,000 persons have lost their lives since the Boko Haram insurgency started in the country.
There have been diverse opinions for solution to the Boko Haram scourge. While some call for dialogue as panacea to the 4 year terror, others insist that dialoguing with the ‘faceless group’ will spell doom to the nation.
The latest concern to Nigerians now is call for amnesty for the killer group. Prominent amongst the amnesty agitators include Gen. Abulsalam Abubakar, former Head of State, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Sultan of Sotoko, Alh. Mohommed Sa’ad Abubakar and Gen. Yakubu Gowon, another former Head of State. Others are Senators from Bornu State and Arewa youths.
The President and Commander In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has severally said that the Federal Government under his leadership is not in a hurry to consider amnesty for Boko Haram operators.
His reasons are that amnesty is not granted in a vacuum. That as long as Boko Haram insurgents continue to make themselves invisible the federal government will not grant amnesty to ‘ghosts’.
Another point of serious consideration is the fact that the agenda of the Boko Haram insurgents is not clearly stated, going by what their name implies, Boko Haram, which literally translated means ‘western education is evil’, plus the hidden agenda of Islamizing the entire nation, which before now was played up as motive for the mindless attacks on innocent Nigerians.
Jonathan is not alone in that school of thought, Prof. Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information during Musa Yar’Adua’s regime has echoed the position. To him, it is dangerous to contemplate amnesty when you d not know who are being considered for such gesture. Bishop (Dr.) Friday Nwator a clergyman and elder statesman of Niger Delta extraction had also corroborated the position of President Jonathan on the amnesty issue. Bishop Nwator however went ahead to challenge the Northern elders to take responsibility of bringing out the Boko Haram insurgents for a meaningful dialogue with the federal government before canvassing for amnesty, this according to him, has become necessary to find a lasting solution to Boko Haram menance. He recalled how he spear-headed such move during the height of militancy in the Niger Delta, spent his time and money to broker peace between the then militants and the federal government.
Several activists in the country have spoken for and against the proposed amnesty for Boko Haram.
With the look of things, amnesty for Boko Haram may or may not solve the current insecurity problem in Nigeria. What we are convinced is that since amnesty has become national cake in Nigeria, the federal government should be ready and prepared to grant more amnesty even after Boko Haram.
We hinged our reason on the kidnapping experience that youths in Delta State bequeathed to the country, during Niger Delta militancy which had beaten all known solutions and is still haunting the country till tomorrow.
The federal government should prepare her mind to grant amnesty to a minimum of 6 geopolitical zones in the country. We can say without fear of contradiction that the major reason why Boko Haram and their sponsors are craving for amnesty is because to they have seen amnesty as a lucrative venture, having being tested in the Niger Delta region.
What we are saying in essence, is that the federal government should think critically before being cajoled into another amnesty jamboree for ruthless persons who just woke up one morning to wage war against their father land.
We had before now said that any government that can not bite when necessary is not qualified to be called government. Necessity in this wise is of course when the lives and property of your citizenry are endangered for any reason.
What else do we call being endangered other than what Boko Haram operators are doing in the country right now.
We advise that the federal government should put its thinking cap right and do what makes it government. It is also important to note that time is ticking fast and may tick out if care is not taken.
It is always wise to make haste while the sun shines. ###
