Boko Haram to FG We Reject Your Amnesty

A faction of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has out rightly rejected the proposed amnesty for the sect before the Federal Government even makes the offer. Speaking to the BBC in an interview, Abu Dardam, a spokesman for the group said the sect does not respect the Nigerian constitution and is only guided by the Qur'an. Dardam further said the sect does not recognize democracy as a form of government.

In a panic response however, the Borno State Commissioner of Home Affairs Information and Culture, Mr. Hyeladi Inuwa Bwala, has appealed to the group to see reason and embrace the offer. Borno state is the state most affected by Boko Haram's activities.

It may be recalled that after meeting with President Jonathan on Tuesday last week Northern Elders mounted pressure on the President to grant the sect amnesty. This was in furtherance to the call by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, who initiated the call in February this year. Turai, the wife of the late President, Umaru Musa Yar'adua, also lent her voice to the call two days ago.

In response, President Jonathan had set up a committee comprising the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and others to consider if amnesty should be granted and work out the modalities if they agreed it is to be offered, but this pronouncement by Boko Haram may have killed the committee's purpose even before it has completed its job.

It has also embarrassed Northern Elders and the Sultan who were the chief promoters of the amnesty project.