Oritsejafor To Jonathan: Do Not Waste Time, Amnesty Will Not Work

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, informed President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday not to waste his time pampering members of the Islamic sect known as Boko Haram by granting them amnesty, saying that it will not work.

Oritsejafor, who made this known in Abuja after receiving an award of “A True Servant of God” given to him by the Christian Elder Forum of Northern States (NOSCEF), also advised the federal government to build cattle ranches for Fulani herdsmen instead of allowing them to roam around major cities across the country.

According to the CAN president who wept openly for victims of Boko Haram insurgency, the arrogant and deriding manner with which Boko Haram members dismissed the amnesty deal, coupled with the earlier quoted statement by Abu Qaqa, had reinforced their stance that the sect’s only interest is to eliminate Christians and enthrone an Islamic state in Nigeria.

He said: “This is why we are again calling on President Goodluck Jonathan not to waste taxpayers’ money on a futile exercise.  He should review the amnesty deal for Boko Haram, in view of the bravado by the sect leader Mallam Shekau.  Boko Haram is not only a local terrorist organisation; it has a ring of international connection to it.  Do not waste time pampering the sect members because amnesty deal will not work.

“Permit me to call on President Jonathan to beware of some Muslim leaders in the north and their very few Christian allies, who always go to him in droves to seek regional concessions with religious biases;  people who do not see anything wrong in Boko Haram killing Christians but want amnesty for the murderous and bloodthirsty sect members.  Amnesty plan is aimed to divert the attention of reasonable Nigerians and the world from the cruelty of Boko Haram to Christians.”

The CAN president further said that Jonathan should beware of those who kept mute when Odi and Odioma in Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam in Benue State were destroyed by soldiers, but now want heavens to fall when Baga village came under military attack.

“The president should beware of those who kept mute when other Muslim leaders in the north said the country will be made ungovernable if he becomes the president in 2011, but want him to arrest Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo for repeating what they said earlier.  Such hypocrisy should never be tolerated

[Leadership]