Sultan Of Sokoto Appeals To President Jonathan To Grant “Total Amnesty” To Boko Haram Members

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.