17th April, 2013
A member of the committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to work out amnesty for the Boko Haram insurgents in northern Nigeria, has rejected the appointment.
Shehu Sani, a prominent rights activist based in the north, said he was rejecting his nomination into the committee because authorities did not consult him before his name was included in the list and because they ignored his advice.
“Nobody consulted me whether I am interested in serving on the committee and nobody told me anything about the nature of the assignment”, Sani who presides over the Civil Rights Congress, told AFP.
“I suggested the need to consult the leadership of the (Boko Haram) group discreetly through some names I mentioned in order to get their input. That advice was ignored. This new government approach will not get us anywhere and I don’t want to soil my reputation,” he said.
President Goodluck Jonathan today announced a 25-man Presidential Committee to fashion out the best way to tackle the Boko Haram menace in the country.
The committee, chaired by the Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, is expected to “constructively engage key members of Boko Haram and define a comprehensive and workable framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the country,” according to a signed statement by presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati.
The statement said the constitution of the committee followed the consideration of the report of the technical committee set up to review fresh modalities for addressing security challenges in the North, and considered by the National Security Council.
Members of the committee include: Sheik Ahmed Lemu, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Col. Musa Shehu (rtd.), Sheik Abubakar Tureta, and Dr.Datti Ahmed, who had been part of an earlier initiative to forge peace with the militants, but who walked away when his effort was publicised.
The other members are Senator Sodangi Abubakar, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, Amb. Zakari Ibrahim, Comrade Shehu Sani, Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, Malam Adamu S. Ladan, Dr. Joseph Golwa, Air Vice Marshall A. I. Shehu, Mr. R. I. Nkemdirim, DIG P. I. Leha, Prof. Nur Alkali, Malam Salihu Abubakar, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Lugga.
Other members also include: Barrister Ibrahim Tahir, Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo, Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda, Group Capt. Bilal Bulama (rtd), Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi and a representative of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Secretary.
The statement said the committee’s terms of reference will include developing a framework for the granting of amnesty; setting up of a framework through which disarmament could take place within a 60-day time frame; the development of a comprehensive victims’ support programme, and the development of mechanisms to address the underlying causes of insurgencies that will help to prevent future occurrences.
“President Jonathan has also approved the constitution of a federal government committee on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in keeping with his pledge that Nigeria will work with the United Nations and other countries to stem the worrisome proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and their use in creating insecurity and instability in Nigeria and other developing nations,” the statement said.
It listed Amb. Emmanuel Imohe as chairman.
Members include: Amb. Martin I. Uhomoibhi, Amb. T. Dan Hart, Amb. Ghali Umar, Amb. B. G. Wakil, Mr. Opelusi Olureti, a representative of the Ministry of Interior, a representative of the National Security Adviser, a representative of the DG (SSS), a representative of the NIA, a representative of Federal Ministry of Justice, a representative of Ministry of Defence, a representative of DIA, a representative of the Nigeria Police Force, a representative of the Nigerian Customs Service, a representative of OSGF, and the Director, International Organisations Department (MFA) as Secretary.
The statement said both committees would be formally inaugurated by President Jonathan at 10 a.m on Wednesday, 24 April at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.