Jonathan commended over amnesty offer to Boko Haram

Even after Abubakar Shekau, leader of Boko Haram openly ridiculed the idea of an amnesty, Speaker of Niger House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Usman, on Saturday commended Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan for setting up the committee on amnesty for Boko Haram insurgents.

Usman made the commendation during the opening of the 24th Northern States Speakers Forum in Minna.

“I earnestly commend President Goodluck Jonathan for subscribing to listen to the call to grant amnesty to the insurgents by well meaning Nigerians. The setting up an amnesty committee to look into the underlying issues and process that the amnesty should be undertaken, is a welcome development.

“But at least the door has been opened for discussion between them and the government which goes to confirm that they are not ghosts. I consider this move a nationalist response to preserve all we have struggled to build together as a country as we mark the centenary of the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914.

“I therefore join all well meaning Nigerians to applaud the president’s courage to demonstrate the nationalist fervour of stopping parts of Nigeria from becoming theatres of violence and proving critics wrong that Nigeria is becoming a failed state.“

He said the legislature could not fold its arm and watch the carnage, especially as it affected Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Kano and Plateau where many Nigerians were being killed in their prime ages.

Usman said the president’s action had proved that democracy provided ample opportunities of resolving crisis and urged his colleagues to support the amnesty plan in the interest of the region.

He said the legislature in the state had passed 23 bills, while seven others were at various stages before committees, to provide better services to the people.