Vanguardngr:
Nigerians calls for great caution on ceasefire pact with
Boko Haram
on october 17, 2014 at 7:57 pm in news
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Abuja – A cross section of Nigerians on Friday called on the
Federal Government to exercise great caution over the
ceasefire agreement with the Boko Haram insurgents.
The citizens made their feelings known in an interview with the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
While some of the respondents commended both parties for
the agreement, others however advised the government to be
wary of the group as its members were capable of flouting the
terms of the pact any time.
Mr Okey Bernard, an Abuja based writer, commended the
agreement but said that the two parties should be sincere in
its implementation.
“If it is true that the dreaded group has agreed to lay down
arms, it is commendable but the government should be wary
of them.
“How come this ceasefire is coming weeks after the Federal
Government committed about 15 million US dollars to an
arms deal in South Africa?,’’ he asked.
Bernard said that while the army could be suspecting that
Boko Haram may want to use the “ceasefire” to build up its
arsenal, the Boko Haram will not immediately believe that the
army would play fair.
“This is similar to Niger Delta Amnesty and also the truce
between the Spanish Government and the Basque
Separatists,” he said.
Mr Deji Ayoola, a resident of Abuja, commended the
agreement, describing it as a Godly intervention.
“If it is true, then it is a big relief and I see it as God’s
intervention to solve the problem of terrorism,” he said.
Another resident, Mrs Ann Ogunye, also advised the
government to be wary about the agreement as Boko Haram
cannot be trusted.
“The government should be a bit careful because for groups
like the Boko Haram, ceasefire is usually not easy.
“A faction may come up tomorrow to reject the agreement,”
she said.
Stakeholders in hail FG on ceasefire agreement with Boko
Haram
Also Stakeholders in the Nigerian oil and gas industry on
Friday lauded the Federal Government agreement to a
ceasefire with the Boko Haram group.
In an interview with in Lagos, the stakeholders described the
agreement as a welcome development.
NAN reports that the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall,
Alex Badeh, has ordered all field officers involved in the fight
against Boko Haram insurgents to comply with the ceasefire
agreement.
The ceasefire agreement will result in the release of the more
than 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok, Borno State on
April 14 by the group.
Mr Makinde Adekunle, the immediate past President, Nigerian
Institution of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (NIEEE), said
that the agreement was the best approach.
Adekunle said that the government ought to have taken the
decision long ago, considering the havoc of the Boko Haram
on lives, property and economy.
He said that President GoodLuck Jonathan had once again
proven that he was a good leader and had the interest of the
country at heart,’’ he said.
Mr Sheyi Gambo, a former National Publicity Officer of
PENGASSAN, urged the government to find out the grievances
of the insurgents with a view to maintaining peace.
“This is one of the best things that ever happened to us.
“Government has taken a wise decision by reaching a
ceasefire agreement to end all forms of senseless and
barbaric killings of innocent Nigerians,’’ he said.
An economist, Dr Titus Okurounmu, also said that the Federal
Government’s decision to sign the ceasefire agreement was a
welcome development.
Okurounmu said that no country could move forward with
such insurgency.
According to him, bringing to public knowledge those involved
in the agreement is for credit purposes and will make the
present administration dispensation transparent.
Okurounmu, a former Director, Research Department, Central
Bank of Nigeria, urged the government to be more specific on
how soon the Chibok schoolgirls would be released, following
the agreement. (NAN)