Buhari backs amnesty for Boko Haram

Posted by: Ernest Nwokolo in Featured, News April 11, 2013

NATIONAL leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Maj-Gen Mohammadu Buhari has backed the planned amnesty for Boko Haram, the fundamentalist sect whose insurgency has claimed more than 1000 lives.
He urged Nigerians to embrace whatever solution that would bring peace to the country.
Gen. Buhari, who was his party’s candidate in the 2011 presidential election, described as a good thing the committee raised by the Federal Government to examine all requests for amnesty for members of the sect, which is against western education.
Speaking with reporters at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, Gen. Buhari said the terms of reference given to the amnesty committee remained unknown to him,
He said if amnesty was granted to the group, it would not be the first of such a thing, citing the clemency extended to Niger Delta militants by the administration of the late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’ Ardua.
Gen. Buhari said: “Yes, it is good they have set up a committee and I haven’t seen the terms of reference, but it is the right thing to do. This is not the first time amnesty will be given to … eh.. what shall I call them, a violent group; remember what happened with Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua and the militants. So, this is not the first time. Whatever that will bring peace to the society, we should do it.”
The former military Head of State was accompanied to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, by the CPC National Chairman, Prince Tony Momoh, former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, National Publicity Secretary Rotimi Fashakin, Southwest Chairman of CPC Mr Razaq Muse, Lagos State Chairman, Emibata Ajibade and Gen. Buhari’s running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare.
Also in the entourage were: the CPC’s former governorship candidate in Ogun State, Mr Wale Okunniyi and the State Chairman, Mr Kunle Mudashiru.
Gen. Buhari said his mission in the Gateway State was to commiserate with the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief (HID Awolowo, over the death of Evangelist Oluwole Awolowo, her son.
He was also at Ijebu-Ode to pay homage to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
“I was in Ikene to commiserate with the Awolowo family and I also drove to see the Awujale of Ijebuland. I came here to Abeokuta to greet the mother of my friend, and colleague, Pastor Tunde Bakare.
In the morning (today), I will drive to Ekiti State and condole and commiserate with them on the death of their deputy governor. This is the purpose of my visit.”
 http://thenationonlineng.net/new/buhari-backs-amnesty-for-boko-haram/