by Our Reporter
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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