Amnesty for Boko Haram: Emirs, Northern leaders must sign undertaking – PDP chieftain

A PDP chieftain in Abia State, Chief Henry Ikoh, has called on the Federal Government to ensure that Northern leaders, including the Emirs and leaders of the dreaded Boko Haram sign an undertaking, assuring of a total ceasefire in every part of the country before the issue of amnesty is finalised.

Iko who praised President Goodluck Jonathan for considering amnesty for the Boko Haram members warned that there was need for the Boko Haram terrorists to sign and guarantee a complete end of insurgence if amnesty is granted them.

Addressing journalists in Oboro Ikwuano, near Umuahia, Ikoh said amnesty option being weighed by the Federal Government was commendable, but expressed that it would amount to no issue if no firm assurance of ending attacks and bombing was extracted from them through their leaders, Emirs and other notable Northern leaders.

The undertaking, he said, would enable the Federal Government to know who to hold responsible if the terrorists go back to the trenches after receiving amnesty.

He also urged the Boko Haram members to come out and show their faces and engage in negotiation with government while bringing forward, their grievances.

His words: “They only want to get free money. If government wants to extend amnesty to people who took up arms against it, there should be a guarantee from the Emirs, council chairmen in the North and other stakeholders that Boko Haram members will lay down their arms.

“But if there is no such guarantee, amnesty should not be granted, and any further breach of the peace in the nation by the group should be followed by declaration of emergency in the affected Northern states”.

Iko also urged the Federal Government to engage members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB, who have remained non-violent in their agitation to find out what they actually want.

“MASSOB wants meaningful developments in the South East, democracy dividends”, he said. He called on the Federal Government to listen to them.

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