Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Boko Haram: Don't negotiate, CAN urges President Jonathan


Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, on Wednesday advised President Goodluck Jonathan against engaging in dialogue with Boko Haram.
Oritsejafor described as unfortunate, a statement allegedly credited to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Nurudeen Muhammed, that Nigeria was the most populated Islamic nation in the world.
Oritsejafor spoke with journalists at the end of a one-day National Executive Council meeting of CAN in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
He maintained that there was no basis for dialogue with members of the sect since they were still giving tough conditions for such talks.
He said the Federal Government should rather beam its searchlights on some political and religious leaders who failed to condemn the activities of the sect.
The cleric said, “I don’t know what the dialogue is all about. I feel puzzled because these people (Boko Haram) had never hidden their agenda and condition for peace.
“For instance, they called for the resignation of Jonathan or become a Muslim; and they are also demanding the declaration of Sharia in 12 northern states as part of conditions for peace.
“They are purely Islamic fundamentalists who are enjoying robust supports from some powerful, influential and wealthy leaders. Discussing with such people would be merely a waste of time.”
The CAN president also warned against payment of compensation to members of the sect who he described as murderers.
He said, “The whole concept is wrong. Why should we compensate murderers? To pay money to those who killed innocent souls? What happened to the families of their victims? Who will take care of the widows and orphans after they had killed their breadwinners?”
Oritsejafor said before any dialogue could be initiated, the Federal Government should insist that all those involved in the act should drop their arms and embrace peace.

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