The Christian Association of Nigeria{CAN} has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgency dismiss the whole idea of amnesty to the Boko Haram sect, as it would be an invitation to confusion in the country.
The General Secretary of CAN, Rev Musa Asake who said this when he addressed journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, instead advisedthe Federal Government to begin the process of compensating and alleviating the sufferings of the victims of the sect.
CAN called on President Jonathan to ignore the Northern elders who were putting pressure on him and turning serious security matters into politics.
Asake also stated that CAN was embarrassed by the same calling for amnesty by the Ja’amatu Nasril Islam{JNI}, which it said should be seen as the leading light of Islam by its truth and fairness all the times, had veered off the path in its quest of deceiving the world about the cruelty of Boko Haram against Christians in the North.
He further stated that John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Bishop Matthew Kukah did not have the moral or institutional authority to speak for Nigerian Christians, as they had supported the position of the JNI.
He said that it was only CAN that was vested with such powers, noting that supporting amnesty for Boko Haram, was their own opinions.
Asake said that statistics released by International Agencies showed that more Christians were killed in Nigeria in the year 2012 alone, for their faith than the rest of the world combined.
He said “In the last three years, besides the isolated bombings in Abuja, the Boko Haram have bombed over 200 churches and killed over 1250 Christians worshiping in their churches.”
The General Secretary added that the arrogant and deriding manner that the sect had dismissed the prospect for amnesty to it was a confirmation of CAN’s assertion that their only interest is to eliminate Christians in the North.
He said: “CAN will not fail to point out that the present clamour for amnesty to the sect members by the Sultan of Sokoto and his cohorts is a strategy to drive home the message of reaping from where they did not sow.
“It is a strategy to get a better deal for those they have impoverished for years. By canvassing for amnesty, the JNI is promoting the culture of crass impunity that desecrates the sanctity of human life”
Meanwhile, Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha on Tuesday in Abuja implored leaders in the country to solve the challenge posed by Boko Haram attacks and stop what he called cynical blames over the challenge.
Okorocha noted that the bloodletting in the country currently surpasses what obtained during the civil war.
Gov Okorocha made this statement at an annual conference and award ceremony organized by Leadership Newspapers, as he cautioned that this is not a time to point accusing fingers nor engage in pointing cynical blame of responsibility.
He insisted that the problem of the nation lied on leadership and one that had nothing to do with followership.
The governor maintained that what the nation needed was visionary leaders and that the citizens must begin to choose leaders who have visions.
Also, the Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu has said that members of the group did not represent Islam, did not know and fight for the religion, and that members of the sect engaged in things that were anti-Islam.
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