As the planned amnesty for the Boko Haram foot soldiers continues to generate controversies, former Head of State and national leader of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on Wednesday said that amnesty was the only way forward for Nigeria.
According to the presidential candidate in the 2011 election, granting amnesty to the terrorist group would not be out of place because it would not be the first time a militant group would be given such a privilege by the Federal Government.
Buhari recalled that the late President Umaru Yar’Adua also granted amnesty to Niger Delta militants to douse the tension in the oil-rich region a few years back.
The Kastina-born politician in company of his running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare; the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, and the party’s National Chairman, Prince Tony Momoh gave this observation on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital shortly after a courtesy call on the Governor, Mr. Ibikunle Amosun in his Oke-Mosan office.
The retired General, donned in blue Agbada, was received at the Presidential Lodge, GRA, Abeokuta by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, and the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Lanre Tejuoso on behalf of the state Governor.
He had earlier in the day paid a condolence visit to the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief Mrs. Hannah Awolowo to commiserate with her over the death of her son, Chief Oluwole Awolowo.
Buhari however commended the Federal Government’s decision to set up a committee on the implementation of the amnesty for the Boko Haram sect, describing it as a “good” move.
“It is good that they have set up a committee, although I have not seen the term of reference. This is not the first time that amnesty would be given to a violent group. You’ll remember it happened in the time of Yar Adua when he granted amnesty to the militant groups. Whatever will bring us peace as a society, we should do it,” he said.
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