Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida
A former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, on Thursday declined to comment on the presidency’s decision to set up an amnesty committee to review the possibility of granting amnesty to the Boko Haram insurgent group.
Mr. Babangida, who hosted journalists at his residence in Minna, Niger State, said he believed setting up such a committee “is part of measures at ensuring that peace stability was returned to the Northern region”.
He, however, declined further comment saying he would only talk after the federal government inaugurates the committee and makes its terms of reference known.
“I do not know the terms of reference of the committee, therefore, I cannot speak about the plan, until the terms of reference had bad been released before commenting on the amnesty plan,” Mr. Babangida said.
The retired general also enjoined Nigerians to join hands with the government at all levels to tackle the security challenges facing the country.
The former ruler said “every Nigerian has a role to play in tackling the security challenges facing us as a nation,” because “the government could not possibly tackle such problem alone.”
“If we all come together, the elite, the media, the ordinary people and the government by taking a common stand just as the people of Azare in Bauchi did to tackle their security challenges,” he said.
The former dictator said the nation must trace the root of the problem.
“The problem did not start in one day … it was gradual thing before it came to this level … owing to our negligence by the government, the elite and the people; but I cannot blame anyone.
“Some 20 years ago, we did not have this problem, what was the state of things then, what have we forgotten …that we have not done that led to the present challenges, this we have look at.
“It is something that everyone has a hand in solving …to ensure peace stability in the country, therefore we should not leave this to government alone,” Babangida said.
Read more: Premium Times
May de soul of da young girl RIP
The activities of boko haram insurgence and their creators will soon be made manifest, they are pestering the Govt. to give them Amnesty and yet telling the media that they don’t need it, it is begining to tell on them, guilt and shame is beginning to set in. The souls of the innocents that died in the course of their contributions to humanity and mordern civilization are reawakening to revenge in the Land! oh mother Africa! slumber not when the Land is under siege, rescue your children from the precipice for there is bloodshed in the Land. Amnesty in deed.