Islamic Leaders Call on President of Nigeria to Absolve Boko Haram of 3,000 Murders

ICC Note:
Islamic leaders from Nigeria’s northern states have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to grant Boko Haram militants amnesty for the violence that has consumed Nigeria for the past three years. This comes after the president rejected this proposal when it was proposed weeks ago. Should Boko Haram be given amnesty? What happens to all the victims of the violence? Will they ever get justice?           
3/23/2013 Nigeria (OsunDefender) – The national leadership of Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), at the end of an emergency meeting today in Kaduna urged the 19 Northern Governors to shun President Goodluck Jonathan’s antics and grant amnesty to Boko Haram and all the other groups responsible for the restiveness in Northern Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its president, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, AYF said that this position has become expedient because the North is on the verge of “extinction and collapse,” and that there may no longer be a Northern Nigerian region as a political and geographical entity within the larger Sovereign State of Nigeria.
The group criticized the federal government’s politics, sophistry and insensitivity in handling the Boko Haram insurgency which it said, has further compound the challenges confronting Northern Nigeria.
Gujungu, who sent the strongly-worded press statement to SaharaReporters New York office, further said that posterity will hold the governor’s accountable if they don’t act fast.
“As at today, our economy is gone; the aged-long togetherness of Northern Christians and Muslims is totally gone,” the statement said.
“There is also no political cohesion in the North. And there is no sign that this ugly trend can be contained, if the Federal Government continues its flagrant display of insensitivity and nonchalance then, we will be threading the path of fire and bloodshed.”
Full text of the statement:
“The Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) held an emergency meeting in Kaduna today (22nd March 2013) where the forum extensively discussed the State of the Nation and as well the ongoing challenges and possible crises of extinction threatening Northern Nigeria. We have been following with utter dismay and despair how President Goodluck Jonathan’s led Federal Government has been playing politics and exhibiting such sophistry and a high sense of insensitivity in handling the Boko Haram insurgency and further compounding the series of challenges confronting Northern Nigeria.
“As at today, our economy is gone; the aged-long togetherness of Northern Christians and Muslims is totally gone. There is also no political cohesion in the North. And there is no sign that this ugly trend can be contained, if the Federal Government continues its flagrant display of insensitivity and nonchalance then, we will be threading the path of fire and bloodshed. It is based on all these concerns that Arewa Youth Forum resolves as follows:
“That the 19 Northern State Governors, should as a matter of preserving the Northern Nigerian region from extinction and attaining a Failed State status, grant AMNESTY to the Boko Haram sect and all other groups responsible for the restiveness in Northern Nigeria. This is important, all Northern Governors, members of National and State Assemblies must rise, roll their sleeves because if the situation persists, there may not be a Northern Nigerian region again as a political and geographical entity in the larger Sovereign State of Nigeria.
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