The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar (III), on Tuesday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to grant members of the dreaded Islamist militant group, Boko Haram “total amnesty” for the sake of peace in the country.
Blaming the security challenges confronting the country on injustice “meted out to the people,” he said the muslim community in Nigeria was concerned about the spate of bombings and killings by Boko Haram members, especially in the North.
Sultan Abubakar, who is the spiritual head of Muslims in Nigerian, argued that a presidential amnesty to even one member of the sect, could make others to lay down their arms for peace.
Abubakar spoke at the meeting of the Central Council of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam in Kaduna.
“Ours is to advise and we will continue advising the government. If they do what they are supposed to do, that would be fine,” he said, adding that one of the primary duties of government was to ensure the protection of the citizenry.
But in a swift reaction, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, flayed the call by the Sultan, saying it was an indication that he knows the members of Boko Haram.
“Maybe the Sultan knows the Boko Haram members. If he is seeking amnesty for them, it shows that he knows them, because you cannot call for amnesty for people you don’t know,” General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, said.
Dr. Asake added, “All we have been asking is: who are these people? They are faceless people but if someone is calling for amnesty for them, it shows that such a person knows them and if he knows them and calling for amnesty, then there is a problem.
“If the Sultan knows the Boko Haram members, is he saying that Boko Haram members are fighting a just cause? Will they actually receive the amnesty wherever they are? Are they going to accept the amnesty since we don’t really know them? If we get answers to the above, CAN will be able to make further comment.”
Abubakar spoke at the meeting of the Central Council of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam in Kaduna.
“Ours is to advise and we will continue advising the government. If they do what they are supposed to do, that would be fine,” he said, adding that one of the primary duties of government was to ensure the protection of the citizenry.
But in a swift reaction, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, flayed the call by the Sultan, saying it was an indication that he knows the members of Boko Haram.
“Maybe the Sultan knows the Boko Haram members. If he is seeking amnesty for them, it shows that he knows them, because you cannot call for amnesty for people you don’t know,” General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, said.
Dr. Asake added, “All we have been asking is: who are these people? They are faceless people but if someone is calling for amnesty for them, it shows that such a person knows them and if he knows them and calling for amnesty, then there is a problem.
“If the Sultan knows the Boko Haram members, is he saying that Boko Haram members are fighting a just cause? Will they actually receive the amnesty wherever they are? Are they going to accept the amnesty since we don’t really know them? If we get answers to the above, CAN will be able to make further comment.”
