Boko Haram Amnesty : "I cant give Amnesty to Ghost Bombers" - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said contrary to the call by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar III, his administration would not grant members of the Islamist  militant group, Boko Haram amnesty.

Jonathan who spoke at a town hall meeting held in Damaturu as part of activities earmarked for his state visit to Yobe State said members of the sect could not be granted amnesty for now because they remained faceless and have refused to communicate with the government.

The Sultan of Sokoto had on Tuesday  asked President Goodluck Jonathan to grant members of the  Islamist  militant group, Boko Haram ,  “total amnesty” for the sake of  peace in the country similar to the one given to militants in the oil-producing Niger Delta in 2009

Abubakar, who by his position as Sultan,  is the spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims, argued that a presidential amnesty to even one member of the sect, could make  others to lay  down their arms for peace to reign in the nation.

Colonel Tony Nyiam Advocates Amnesty For Boko Haram - Sultans Call

Boko Haram: CAN disagrees with Sultan over amnesty plea

- Punch - Yahoo News

FORMER Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has joined other Nigerians to seek amnesty for members of the Boko Haram sect.

“Anything that can bring peace in the country to the people needs to be studied to see the merit and demerit of such an action.

“Yes there are a lot of people for and against Boko Haram; we should situate our position to the people who are getting the brunt of all these activities.

“People are made homeless; they are made orphans; they are widows; so, if amnesty to these people will bring peace and bring succour to our country, why not?” Abubakar told the North America correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the African Union (AU) secretariat in New York, United States.

It was at an event where the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) on Sudan and South Sudan briefed envoys within the continent on the progress made by the panel.

The former military leader appealed to politicians in the country to be more broad-minded and truthful and provide services to the nation.

“The problem we are having right now is the problem of development, but it is very sad it’s happening.

“But I believe this is an issue that we can overcome if all Nigerians unite to ensure that we fight this cankerworm that is bedevilling our country.

 “There is no country in the world that has not got any problem the way it plays its democracy. It is a matter of learning and doing the right thing,” Abubakar said. Tribune