The Christian Association of Nigeria in
the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday asked
the Federal Government to disband immediately, the Tanimu Turaki-led
Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security
Challenges in the North.
It said the committee was deceiving
Nigerians by claiming that the government had reached a ceasefire
deal with members of the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram. It said
with the claim of of “no deal” by the leader of the sect, Abubakar
Shekau, on Saturday, the committee had failed in its duty and therefore
had no reason to remain in place.
CAN’s National General Secretary , Dr.
Musa Asake, also flayed the body which is better known as the amnesty
committee and challenged it to name the Boko Haram leaders it reached
the said ceasefire with.
Turaki, who is also the Minister of
Special Duties, had a week ago said the committee had “reached an
understanding” with the sect that would result in a ceasefire.
But the Northern CAN, at a news
conference in Kaduna on Sunday by its Public Relations Officer Mr.
Sunday Oibe, said Shekau’s denial was a pointer to the fact that
the committee had never met with even an ordinary member of the
group much less of its leader or leaders.
He said, “We are calling for the
immediate disbandment of the amnesty committee. All money that would be
squandered on the committee should be put into supporting the Joint Task
Force and vulnerable communities in affected states. Enough of this
jamboree with scarce public fund. We have heard enough of this
hypocrisy.
“There can be no amnesty for unrepentant
murderers and insurgents without reconciliation with the victims, and
then negotiation. As Christians, forgiveness comes very naturally as
taught us by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
“Just as our national body had warned
that the amnesty committee was useless, now it has lied to Nigerians
for want of any result.
“If you happen to meet some of the
committee’s members,they will confess to you in privacy that they have
never met any foot soldier of Boko Haram.
“The pronouncement by Shekau has come to
vindicate CAN and our national leader, Pastor Ayo Oristejiafor. He was
criticised when he said that he did not have confidence in the
questionable announcement of a ceasefire between the Federal Government
and Boko Haram.
“Today, Boko Haram number one man has
come to speak with scorn and contempt against the ceasefire agreement
and the said feeling of remorse over their thirst for the blood of
Christians and some few Muslims who go against their interest.
“Shekau said that more schools and more
people will be killed for learning and teaching Western education in
schools in the North. He is the real Boko Haram boss and his threat must
be taken seriously.
“We in Northern CAN believe that the
amnesty committee is useless and has failed. It lied to Nigerians about
this ceasefire just to fool President Goodluck Jonathan to expand its
tenure so they can grab more money.
“All those giving the President this
unwise advice are either doing it for self-serving reasons or are trying
to deceive him into a blunder that will not only destroy him
politically, but jeopardise the polity.
In Abuja, General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, told newsmen that with what was going on, “somebody somewhere is trying to mislead Nigerians.”
Asake said, “What is happening between
the Federal Government’s committee and the denial by Boko Haram is
amazing and we are yet to know the truth about what is going on.
“With this ceasefire agreement which the
committee is emphasising on, they should tell Nigerians who they have
been talking to because it seems they are out to mislead us.
Journalists should find out from the committee so that they can tell
Nigerians the truth.
“We want these Boko Haram people to come
out and nobody has been able to come out. So, this committee should
tell us who they have been dialoguing with.Nigerians will like to know
the truth about the activities of this committee.”
Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Turaki, had while reacting to the Shekau’s denial , said he (Shekau) got it all wrong.
He said the committee held discussions with Mohammed Marwana and not Abdulazeez as was alleged by Shekau in his recent video.
The minister said, “The person referred
to was Abdulazeez; I don’t know him (Abdulazeez) and our committee is
certainly not talking to Abdulazeez please. The person we are talking to
is Mohammed Marwana.”
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