Afenifere rules out amnesty for Boko Haram

 

It said such move was offensive tocommon sense in all ramifications.
The group however warned political players against making provocative statements that were capable of overheating the polity ahead of 2015 general elections.

Leader of the group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, made his stand known on Tuesday while addressing newsmen in hisState of the Nation address at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Fasoranti, who was accompanied by otherleaders, including Chief Olu Falae, Prof Akinyemi Onigbinde, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, Senator Iyiola Omisore, AbagunKole Omololu, Chief Supo Shonibare, among others, also stated that giving amnesty to the insurgents would be outrageous and retrogressive.


He observed that never in the history of Nigeria, except during the civil war era had Nigerians been more insecured than now, explaining that Afenifere’s position was based on the fallout of the amnesty already granted in the Niger Delta region which had recorded monumental abuse, especially among the elite Managers of the scheme.

“For instance, we agree that granting amnesty in the Niger Delta region per se is in order. But we find it hard to defend the monumental abuse going on, especially among the elite managers of the scheme and are disturbed as to whether the scheme will bring a lasting peace, giving episodic restlessness still being demonstrated.
“Yet, we have created a set of emergency billionaires from amnesty, while the conditions in the creeks remain virtually what they were.
“It is with this at the back of our mind that we have been so skeptical over the so-called amnesty for Boko Haram which is a much more dangerous group than theNiger Delta insurgents who were known and whose demands were clear,” he said.

Fasoranti, who noted that the Boko Haramterrorists had been unfortunately complemented by the activities of kidnappers, assassins, armed robbers andothers, advocated that any decision on Boko Haram should be holistic, saying thecountry should not be talking of the insurgents, but also their victims as well as the causes of the menace with a view to ensuring that the situation did not repeat itself.

The elder statesman decried the level of corruption in the country, noting in particular the pension scam and the lack of will on the part of government and agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to tackle the menace.

“In years past, people talked of corruptionin millions of naira, today they refer to it in billions and trillions with reckless impunity,” he said.
“The anti-graft war in the country has been put on comatose, confirming the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s prediction seven years ago that a day was coming when EFCC officials knock at financial criminals’ doors, such people open the door and say ‘Sit down. What can we offeryou-soft drinks or alcohol?’” he added.
Fasoranti also berrated President Goodluck Jonathan for pardoning the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepriye Alamieyeseigha and Major Bello Magaji, for crimes committed separately, noting that Afenifere’s position was that such discretion had not been exercised judiciously and for public good in the present instance.

Speaking on the coming Centenary Celebration, Fasoranti wondered, “How can we honestly celebrate the arbitrary and ill-considered creation of a country plagued by growing insecurity, injustice, corruption and worsening poverty?”
“Perhaps we can only thank God for surviving so far.
That is why, if we must celebrate, it has to be done with deep empathy for the down-hearted and extreme caution with the hope of salvaging an already prostrate situation,” he counseled.