The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar III, on Tuesday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to grant members of the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram , “total amnesty” for the sake of peace in the country.
Abubakar, who by his position as Sultan, is the spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims, argued that a presidential amnesty to even one member of the sect, could make others to lay down their arms for peace to reign in the nation.
Blaming the security challenges confronting the country on injustice “meted out to the people,” he said the muslim community in Nigeria was concerned about the spate of bombings and killings by Boko Haram members, especially in the North.
Abubakar spoke at the meeting of the Central Council of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam in Kaduna.
He said as Jonathan prepares to visit Maiduguri, Borno State, where the sect has its root, he should consider the amnesty option as a surest way to make peace reign once again in the country.
“Ours is to advise and we will continue advising the government. If they do what they are supposed to do, that would be fine,” he said, adding that one of the primary duties of government was to ensure the protection of the citizenry.
But the Christian Association of Nigeria flayed the call by the Sultan, saying it was an indication that he knows the members of Boko Haram.
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