[Guardian Ng] NORTHERN Islamic leaders under the umbrella of the Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI) have said that the rejection of the amnesty proposal by the Federal Government, by the leadership of the Boko Haram... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...
Militants is a setback in finding lasting solution to the insurgency in the North.
Besides, they also blamed some Christian leaders, particularly, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, for their utterances and opposition to the amnesty proposal, saying that the position on the issue was capable of fuelling further crisis in Nigeria.
The Secretary General of the JNI, Sheikh Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, who spoke Friday in Kaduna said that "It is an unexpected happening that just came from the blue and took Moslems in particular and the whole country unawares."
"If man had pre-knowledge of what will happen, then it wouldn't have happened, the way accident is. If the person involved in an accident knew that it will happen, he would have taken precautionary measures not to allow that happen."
According to Aliyu: "There are many options left for the government. Even the amnesty itself must have preparatory steps before the amnesty is reached. First is finding them, second is to ask them to come out and then dialogue with them. I think that these are the most important ingredients that are supposed to come first. I think we are just putting the cart before the horse because the first thing is to look for them, then ask them to come out and if they do, create a conducive atmosphere for dialoguing with them before the amnesty which should the final stage".
The JNI Secretary General, while addressing journalist at a presser, said that the Islamic leaders have "noticed with dismay the manner and language of argument from some quarters in the country over the seeming controversy being generated by the federal government's proposal on amnesty for Boko Haram Death Eaters," adding that "while such controversy is legitimate and contribution to it is a right of every Nigerian, we feel that at a precarious time like this, the basis of any contribution should be for the purpose of achieving peace and not to further aggravate the tension in the land."
Aliyu declared: "We are therefore perplexed that while the call to grant amnesty to Boko Haram by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI, has received strong support of prominent Christians, such as Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Bishop Mathew Kukah, Pastor Paul Unongo, to mention but few, the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejfor and his cohorts are busy confusing the country's leadership on the way out of the security challenges."