News: Boko Haram ceasefire: Disband Amnesty Committee for lying – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday in Kaduna, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to disband the Amnesty Committee for lying on the Boko Haram ceasefire. The CAN said it was shameful that the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Mr. Kabiru Turaki, had last Monday announced that a deal had been struck with the Boko Haram sect, only for the group’s leader to flatly deny the existence of such a deal. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Northern CAN, Mr. Sunday Oibe, said it is apparent that the Amnesty Committee lied when it told Nigerians that the group, which had claimed the mass killing of at least 4000 persons in bombings and gun duel since 2009 in the northern states, had asked for forgiveness from its surviving victims.


Oibe, who spoke to newsmen yesterday in Kaduna, said the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, had been vindicated after being rebuked by some northerners for expressing doubt over the reported ceasefire deal reached between the terrorist group and the Federal Government. According to him, “The pronouncement by Shekau, the real leader of Boko Haram, has come to vindicate our national leader, Pastor Ayo Oristejafor. He was called many names when he said that he does not have confidence in the questionable announcement of a ceasefire between the Federal Government and Boko Haram.

“Today, Boko Haram’s 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. “Just as CAN 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 members personally, some will confess to you in privacy that they have never met any foot soldier of Boko Haram, much less of any one near its leadership

“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. “Pastor Oristejafor is not flippant in his statements. He gets his vision and inspiration to speak out from the true God, the Almighty God that Christians worship. And everything he has said and predicted about the cruelty carried out against Christians in the North has come to pass. “That is contrary to views of some top Christian clergy who are apologists of Boko Haram together with some northern leaders, clerics and elites. All their advice to government on this issue has failed.

“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 President Jonathan unwise advice are either doing it for self-serving seasons, or are trying to deceive him into a blunder that will not only destroy him politically, but jeopardise the corporate existence of Nigeria. “Our CAN president has remained the most consistent, most honest and truthful to government on Boko Haram and all other injustices carried out by many state governments against Christians in Sharia-practicing states. All this is because of the belief that CAN has in the development and growth of Nigeria as one happy country forged together by God.

“We want to advise our Christian brothers in vulnerable places to be extra vigilant, including other non-Christians who may be targets of the demonic antics of Boko Haram.” Oile stressed that, “Northern CAN is calling for the immediate disbandment of the Amnesty Committee. All monies that would be squandered on the committee should be put into supporting the Joint Task Force and vulnerable communities in the affected states. Enough of this jamboree with scarce public fund, enough of hypocrisy. The Amnesty Committee, even in its composition, was in the first place an insult to Nigerian Christians. And now, see how it has failed.

“Finally, there can be no amnesty for unrepentant murderers and insurgents without reconciliation with the victims, and then the ensuing negotiation. As Christians, forgiveness comes very naturally as taught us by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. But there must be show of genuine repentance.” Only on Wednesday, Oristejafor had said it doubted the credibility of the ceasefire claim, saying that Boko Haram was too extremist and divided to accept a ceasefire. He had also recalled certain times when members of the group came up with peace overtures, only to be strongly rebuffed by the acclaimed leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau few days later.

His comments drew the ire of the leading Northern organisation, the Arewa Consultative Council (ACF) and the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professional and Businessmen, among others. But last Saturday, Shekau had, in a video message made available to newsmen, denied the claim of ceasefire, vowing not sign any peace deal with those he described as infidels. He also said Boko Haram will burn more schools and kill more teachers.

Source: Daily Newswatch