The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) said President Goodluck Jonathan’s tactless show during his belated visit to Borno and Yobe States last week has worsened the Boko Haram insurgency that has killed and maimed hundreds of innocent people, especially in the two states.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also said while the decision to grant amnesty to any person or group is the prerogative of the government, the argument advanced by the President for denying amnesty to Boko Haram members is as illogical as it is puerile.

It said for a President who has unwisely stayed away from the beleaguered part of the country for too long, last week’s visit only succeeded in inflicting additional pain and insults on the victims of the insurgency, who could have used a little dose of succour and empathy from their leader.

”There is no doubt that there has been an upsurge in attacks and killings since the President’s visit, with the clashes between the JTF and the insurgents leaving many dead, drive-by shooting in Kano claiming the lives of innocent people and the unfortunate killing of foreign hostages who were abducted last month in Bauchi.

”If this upsurge can be used as a barometer to measure the success or otherwise of the President’s visit, then one can only reach one conclusion: The visit is a total failure!” ACN said

The party also expressed shock at the way the President, openly displaying anger when what was needed was temperance, talked down on the people, who have suffered so much in the hands of Boko Haram, at his town hall meetings

It said the misplaced anger of the nation’s number one citizen, who virtually tongue-lashed the prominent citizens who spoke on behalf of their people at the town hall meeting, can only attract sympathy for the insurgents among the beleaguered population, thereby worsening the crisis.
”The President wanted to appear tough in dealing with the Boko Haram insurgents. There is no problem with that, except that he directed his anger at the wrong people, the same people who have been victimized by Boko Haram.
This is called double whammy,” the party said.

On the President’s argument that amnesty cannot be granted to ”ghosts”, ACN said he simply missed the mark.

”If the President claims that Boko Haram members are ghosts, who then are the members of Boko Haram that the JTF regularly claims to have arrested or killed? Does it mean the 52 Boko Haram members that the JTF claimed to have killed, in its latest press release dated March 9th 2013, are actually ghosts?

”What about the Boko Haram members that are being tried in court? Could the government have been trying ghosts?

And what about those Boko Haram members who were declared wanted last year? Are they also ghosts? Also, the government’s spokesmen have said publicly that the government is talking with Boko Haram through back-channels.
So the Jonathan Administration has indeed been talking to ghosts?

”Mr. President, there is nowhere in the world where insurgents have erected a headquarters building and put up a sign
to say ‘we are insurgents, come and get us.’ By their nature, insurgents don’t engage in a march past, displaying their
weapons. That is why intermediaries are used to reach out to them,” the party said.

ACN said while it strongly condemns the Boko Haram insurgents, their senseless killing of innocent people and attacks
on the security agents, it believes that the use of force is not the only option open to the government to end the crisis.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/jonathans-visit-to-bornoyobe-has-worsened-boko-haram-crisis-acn/

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. However i think the use of more force has become necessary

LIAR MOHAMMED ARE YOU ONE OF THEM.THIS STATEMENT BY ACN HAS SHOwN THAT THEY ARE SYMPATHETIC TO BOKO HARAM COURSE.SUPPORTING AMNESTY FOR BOKO HARAM IS THE HEIGHT OF THEIR MISDEED AND THIS IS THE PARTY THAT SOME BRAIN DEAD INDIVIDUALS wANT NIGERIANS TO VOTE FOR. SO IF THEY wIN THEY wOULD GRANT AMNESTY TO BOKO HARM

First, who is this Lair Mohammed guy? And why does ACN choose to use him as spokesperson? Arent there no smarter folks in the party?

Only a terrorist will sympathise with terrorist.

they are now in alliance with terrorists dei dei and child molesters like YERIMA the formal zamfara governor

We seem to have more prematures in this forum. There is no where, particularly Boko haram virsus Nigeria govt. that you will encourage the government to continue the killing of both Boko member and inncoient citizens even when the latter also seeking help foR peace and violent free eviroment to carrying on their daily business.
The devil boko haram with their killing is outrightly condemn by Lai Muhamed, what he's simply telling the government is that you dont add salt into the injury of affected sitizen of this violent. let us be sincere to ourselves,we all see how Yaradua approached things during his time and the result he got. Amnesty fashioned out during Yaradua in which Jonathan was involed. You needto ask our president-if property and life he prerogatively accept to protect now meant to be distroyed?
He ought not have said no amnesty to ghost when our JTF is already arresting and killling some. if you had no intension of subscribing to amnesty dont let it known, just pretend and designed another means so as to allow peace rains and protection of lives you've sworn to do. Obj will never be forgiven for all he did in Odi, the same aprocah is bein apply by jonathan instead of listening to those who capableto manage anachy and crisis in such a way that lives and properties will be protected. I believe if any of his family leaves in the north, he would have adopted amnesty. JTF is a one way soldier, never ready to take a measure before releasing their bullets otherwise their lives would be toyed. if anyone had witnessed where a soldier was killed by civilian and the kind of brutal approach by team of army in retaliation you will not applaud Jonathan method in dealing with boko haram. does boko haram alone leave where the batle is taking place? do you know the number of innocient citizens that have lost their lives in this madness? do federal government provide alternative place for innocient citizens who live where boko is operating before apllying kill them all? it takes a sane to answer those question.

Lie Mohammed and his gang are making PDP's job very easy.

What if the FG extends amnesty and Boko Haram rejects it. What next?

It seems majority of the ACN members are BOKO HARAM.

This is the most senseless and desperate statement I have heard. Abi na by force to give press release? Abeg who gave Lai Mohammed kai kai

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jas_o: We seem to have more prematures in this forum. There is no where, particularly Boko haram virsus Nigeria govt. that you will encourage the government to continue the killing of both Boko member and inncoient citizens even when the latter also seeking help foR peace and violent free eviroment to carrying on their daily business.
The devil boko haram with their killing is outrightly condemn by Lai Muhamed, what he's simply telling the government is that you dont add salt into the injury of affected sitizen of this violent. let us be sincere to ourselves,we all see how Yaradua approached things during his time and the result he got. Amnesty fashioned out during Yaradua in which Jonathan was involed. You needto ask our president-if property and life he prerogatively accept to protect now meant to be distroyed?
He ought not have said no amnesty to ghost when our JTF is already arresting and killling some. if you had no intension of subscribing to amnesty dont let it known, just pretend and designed another means so as to allow peace rains and protection of lives you've sworn to do. Obj will never be forgiven for all he did in Odi, the same aprocah is bein apply by jonathan instead of listening to those who capableto manage anachy and crisis in such a way that lives and properties will be protected. I believe if any of his family leaves in the north, he would have adopted amnesty. JTF is a one way soldier, never ready to take a measure before releasing their bullets otherwise their lives would be toyed. if anyone had witnessed where a soldier was killed by civilian and the kind of brutal approach by team of army in retaliation you will not applaud Jonathan method in dealing with boko haram. does boko haram alone leave where the batle is taking place? do you know the number of innocient citizens that have lost their lives in this madness? do federal government provide alternative place for innocient citizens who live where boko is operating before apllying kill them all? it takes a sane to answer those question.

@jas o. ..... Dont bother urself trying to defend Boko Haram. Even the baby in ur wife's womb will frown at u. Lai Mohammed and ACN must not use every issue to score a political point. One can easily view Yoruba/Hausa/Fulani/Boko Haram as one entity now with this coment from ACN. Worry about wining SW again and leave Boko Haram to the government. The French refused to negotiate with them when they held their citizens, what does that tell u? These pple are bad publicity, associating with them will only bring this great party ACN to disrepute.

@jas o.. What is ur point really? Who told you the amnesty thing worked out in the south south. I read what you spent your time typing and sincerly it was just a waste of time. Its either you are not properly informed or you or one of your family member is a Boko dude.