Some residents of Kano metropolis on Wednesday decried the scarcity of small currency denominations in circulation in the city.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the scarcity affects denominations like N5, N10 and N50 the most.
Mr Eze Nwosu, a tricycle operator, told NAN that ``this is causing `wahala' with many people that patronise us.
``This change matter is disturbing our business. Most passengers will not tell you they don't have change until when you drop them.
``It is even worse when you carry passenger to all these GRA's where you will not even see anybody to beg for change."
Malam Idris Muhammad, a trader at the Kwari Market, also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ameliorate the challenges faced by traders and their customers because of the shortage of lower currencies.
``It is unfortunate that we are having misunderstanding with our business partners.
``The CBN should direct banks to release those currencies since they constitute the largest exchange among the common man," Muhammad appealed.
NAN observed that most of the smaller denominations are old, tattered or even defaced.
The CBN had, over two months ago, said it would increase the quantity of such small denominations in circulation. (NAN)

At least 70 people have been killed and many more are feared trapped after an eight-storey building collapsed in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, government officials say.
Frantic efforts are under way to rescue those beneath the debris. At least 200 were injured by the collapse.
The army is helping with the rescue operation on the outskirts of Dhaka.
Building collapses are common in Bangladesh where many multi-storey blocks are built in violation of rules.
The eight-storey building contained a clothing factory, a bank and several other shops. It collapsed during the morning rush hour.
Many people have gathered near the scene looking for friends and relatives.
The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan, in Dhaka, says that it is not yet clear what caused the collapse but local media reports said a crack was detected in the block on Tuesday.
Local police chief Mohammad Asaduzzaman told the Reuters news agency that factory owners appeared to have ignored a warning not to allow their workers into the building after the crack was detected.
Police told local media that the rear of the building suddenly started to collapse on Wednesday morning and within a short time the whole structure - except the main pillar and parts of the front wall - had caved-in, triggering panic.
Only the ground floor of the Rana Plaza in Sava remained intact after the collapse, officials said, as army and fire service rescuers equipped with concrete cutters and cranes dug through rubble to pull out trapped people. Many onlookers also joined the effort using their bare hands.
Survivors have described their terror as the collapse began.
"I was in the cutting section of the garment factory and suddenly we heard a huge noise and the building collapsed within a few minutes," a garment worker told private Somoy TV.
"I removed the rubble and came out with two other workers. But at least 30 other workers in my cutting section were still unaccounted for," he said.
In November, a fire at a garment factory in a Dhaka suburb killed at least 110 people and triggered a public outcry about safety standards in the industry.
The last major building collapse was in 2010, when a four-storey building collapsed in Dhaka killing at least 25 people and injuring several others.
Officials however says that the death toll may rise.
Bangladesh has one of the largest garment industries in the world, providing competitively priced clothes for major Western retailers which benefit from its widespread low-cost labour.
Are you in Dhaka? Have you been affected? Send us your comments.

Commander of the Special Task Force, Maj. Gen Henry Ayoola, has said the military has not been able to contain the spate of killings in Jos and environs because the attackers do not use conventional warfare.
Ayoola spoke when the Senator representing Plateau North, Gyang Pwajok, visited him in his office in Jos on Tuesday.
The commander said in a conventional warfare, the enemies would have some forms of identification; “whereas, in the case of the crises in Plateau State the STF has had to contend with the fact that the combatants are not known and has no form of identification, chooses time and place of attack and always achieve their aim because of these advantages”.
He said, “We have also realised that the problem before us falls within the realms of what we call asymmetric warfare. In asymmetric warfare, you are dealing with an unknown enemy. In a typical military operation, you know the enemy; he is wearing a uniform as you do. You don’t need to search for him because there is an identification mark. He carries weapon and so you know where he is located.
“But it is a different thing in asymmetric warfare because you don’t know the enemy; he has no location; there are no lines between you and him. He is among and within you; he know you, you don’t know him so he has all the advantages.”
He added, “The underlying principles must be addressed and that is the restoration of peace and order by the military is simply temporary. What will sustain law and order is sustainable and lasting peace. If you achieve law and order by enforcing it every day, that means that invariably, you have to keep men on the streets permanently and this is not the kind of peace we envisage.”
Pwajok had expressed worry over the continuous attack in his senatorial zone, which he said had inflicted psychological trauma on his people.
Pwajok said, “I am worried because these attacks have continued to inflict psychological trauma on the people just as it demoralises the officers and men, who, despite they are here to keep the peace, sometimes seem to be hindering the objectives.”
Meanwhile, the state police command intercepted a cache of arms and improvised explosive devices in the state capital.
The commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe, said this on Tuesday when when Pwajok visited him in his office.

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the inclusion of Mrs. Aisha Wakil as a member of the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, stated this in a statement on Tuesday.
The 26-man committee charged with identifying and engaging key leaders of Boko Haram sect and developing a workable framework for amnesty and disarmament of members of the group has Kabiru Turaki as its chairman.
Two members, Datti Ahmed and Shehu Sani, had rejected their nomination to serve on the committee.
Abati, in the statement, added that the inauguration of the committee and the Committee on Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons initially scheduled for 10am on Wednesday would now hold by 9am.
He, however, said the inauguration would still take place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.
He urged members of the committees to be seated by 8.30am in readiness for the prompt commencement of the inauguration.
The presidential aide also advised members of the committees, who reside outside the Federal Capital Territory, to arrive in Abuja on Tuesday ahead of the inauguration.
On arrival in Abuja, Abati urged them to contact the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Gonda, for further information and logistics support.
Abati on Monday said the Federal Government had not foreclosed the option of increasing the membership of the committee while featuring on an African Independent Television’s programme, Kakaaki.
He was reacting to claims by Sani that the he was rejecting the offer because government did not include some individuals that could be helpful in the committee.
Abati had said the government would not hesitate to co-opt any individual found to be useful to the quest to end the orgy of violence unleashed by members of the sect.
He said, “My expectation is that this committee would have very robust interactions and if the need arises for government to still co-opt people as Shehu Sani has suggested, it will not hesitate to do so.”

TODAY IN OKA ,the Capital of ANAMBRA STATE ,the SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT OSELOKA OBAZE when asked about the state of things at KOGI-AGULERI dispute ,he said and i quote


"Anambra and Kogi State authorities continue to work assiduously to bring the present restiveness along their common border under control. They are gratified by the continued moral and organizational support being offered by the Federal authorities and the security agencies. The recent decision by the Inspector-General of Police to deploy formed police units in the buffer zone between the conflicting communities, is acknowledged and appreciated. The gesture will go a long way in calming frayed nerves and contain the activities of youths from both sides hell bent on taking the law into their hands"

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Thursday arraigned the duo of Silas Ogbamebor and Innocent Akpan, before Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Warri on a 3- count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal dealing in Petroleum Product. The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

One of the charges read; “that you Silas Ogbamebor and Innocent Akpan, on or about the 25th day of August 2012 at Okurode Urhobo Street in Warri, Delta State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Dealing in Petroleum Product and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(6) and punishable under section 1(17) both of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Law of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007”.

The accused persons were alleged to have attempted to induce an officer of the 3 Battalion, Nigeria Army, Warri to help release a truck with 7,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil to them by offering him N240, 000 as gratification.

Justice Mohammed Abubakar however granted the accused bail in the sum of Two Million Naira (N2, 000,000.00) and two sureties each. One of the sureties must be a civil servant within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case has been adjourned to May 3rd, 2013 and the accused remanded in prison custody.

Professor Victor Izegbu is of the Urological Surgery at the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirate. In this interview with Tokunbo Adedoja and Sunday Aghaeze, he spoke on the state of the nation. Excerpts:

As a Nigerian in the Diaspora, each time you look at the country’s potential and the current state of affairs, how do you feel?
That is a very good question. I feel extremely sad about the current situation in the country. My view is that the main problem we have is leadership problem. We lack leadership at all levels of the society. Leadership is not just necessarily the President, but people that head various units are leaders in their own rights. As far as I am concerned, they are not functioning optimally to provide effective leadership for the country.

I think I stand in a good position because of my international exposure to be able to bring the experience that I have acquired abroad to improve this country by providing visionary leadership, effective leadership. This is what we need and I am hoping that I will be able to translate that at a specific level where I think I will be most effective.

If the problem is leadership, do you think it has anything to do with the process of the emergence of leaders in this country?
Well, it could be, partly. Because if you look at this country historically, we go back to the pre-independence period when we had the British people ruling us, things worked properly, granted that we were a small nation in terms of population, probably just under 50 million, roughly, in the pre-independence period. We have gradually gone down the hills since independence. We had a crisis that led to the various coups. The military leadership failed us without any doubts and I think we are now at a point where we need to turn things round with a new generation of leaders.

Even some of the civilians have also failed us. I will have to say, post the military era. I am hoping that this century, we will get a new category of leaders that are visionary. There are countries in other parts of the world, far east in particular, Asia and the Middle-east that are transforming their nations, transforming the various cities in those countries to be the envy of the rest of the world. That is where we need to be. Historically, we've just gone downhill since the British left. I think it is time for us to turn things round.

There are instances where Nigerians abroad returned home and were entrusted with leadership but ended up a disappointment. What do you say to that?
I don't think you can judge everybody in the Diaspora by one or two bad eggs, if you want me to describe them like that. There are people who have come from the Diaspora like me who haven't been given the opportunity to prove that we can provide that kind of leadership. More importantly, I left this country in my late twenties, so I lived in Nigeria throughout the early military period. Therefore, I knew a lot about what was happening in Nigeria by the time I left and coming back thirty odd years down the line, I am in a position to identify the differences.

Apart from leadership, do you share the views that Nigeria may be suffering from the curse of oil?
I think our problem is multi-factoral. I don't think we can blame oil alone for that. I have this feeling that even if oil was not discovered in this country and we just have agriculture and industry, we will still have the same problem, we will mess it up. And that is where the common factor is: who will lead us to achieve our goals? A good example is Sheikh Mouhamed Bin Bashir Al-Maktoum in Dubai. If you have been to Dubai, you can see the fantastic changes that have taken place. This is a country that does not have oil.

The neighbouring country has oil, Abu Dhabi, has oil and it is nowhere has nice as Dubai, nowhere as structured as Dubai but they produce more oil than Nigeria. That is a good example. So, we can't blame oil alone. Though, it is a contributory factor, no doubt. I just have a feeling that if we are led properly, we will be in a better state than we are now.

At what point do you think went wrong?
That is another good question. I think probably pre-independence, not post-independence. The way the political parties were set up by the British was a major contributory factor to how our problems started. I think the electoral system that led to the emergence of the then Prime Minister Abubakar, and President Nnamdi Azikiwe was flawed. I think we can start off from that premise that this was actually where our problem started.

When the British were around, everything was under wrap, but as soon as the British left, they came to the fore. That led to the various constitutional crises that we had and that eventually led to the January coup of 1966. So, we have to say that the problem precedes independence actually, but it then became much more open when the British left.

Would you therefore say the military played a role?
Sorry to say, I think they played a major role in terms of our current problems. The lack of a stable political climate made foreign direct investment into Nigeria a huge problem. We had one leader after another, one coup after another. The military era was a huge failure for this country and its set us back for decades. I think most people will agree with that.

There is nowhere in the world where you will have a military government that will be successful. It is usually a transition phase. The people in Southern America tried it and they saw that it was supposed to be a transition thing. Argentina, Chile- it never made any difference. It set them back. Lacking the political system was one of the problems that they had. The military system was not ideal for development. From my point of view, it set us back big time.

What do you think Nigerians in the Diaspora can do to overcome the challenge of re-integration into the system whenever they are home?
I have thought about that. I think forming a united people from the Diaspora rather than individuals from the Diaspora working on their own is probably one way forward. If we do come back, we will still all be within a group while we are here rather than us acting individually. While we were abroad, we worked in a group. We have national associations abroad, when we come back there should be a sub-group of Nigerians who had been abroad but are back in Nigeria trying to deal with the problem we encounter when we get back.

How to integrate and assimilate the new culture that we are trying to catch up with; there is that obvious problem of people who have been here trying to say that you can't just come back and then tell us what to do because you have been away while we have been here struggling to do that. Well, they may even have a point, but at the end of the day, what is your goal? What do you want to achieve. If we all have the same goal, we should be able to work together. So, it is a question of those of us in the Diaspora trying to work with those who have been here to achieve the same goal.

Would you advocate electoral reform in terms of campaign funding and the process of electing party candidates?
I do. I strongly advocate that. I think there are plans for a constitutional review. The present constitution was written for us by the military as it were. I think it is time for us to rewrite the constitution. The problem I have with that is that those who will be involved in writing the constitution are those who are already entrenched in the system. And you know what human beings are? They will write the constitution in their favour. So, there has to be a mechanism where we’ll involve people from outside. We can't afford to leave it to the current legislature as its stands today.

There has to be a form of national consensus on how we write a new constitution. I think from this point of view, I will have to follow one of the suggestions made by Dr. Tunji Braithwaite that there has to be a national consensus that will take Nigeria in a new direction post the military era. That new direction will be such that we will have a new set of goals for ourselves. And I think for a new century as well, we should have a totally new idea of how we’ll develop our country. We need to start all over again. That will be my suggestion on that.

If you have the privilege to serve, what will be your focus and priorities?
Coming from Delta State, the way things are in 2013 and possibly to the next election, security is a major issue. I think that is something I will make a priority on my list because without security, you can't have a stable environment for people to thrive, for economic development, for people to move around. Safety of lives and property is extremely important. One will have to have a special agreement with the Federal Government on how we will keep Delta State secured. People need to be able to move around freely. We need to be able to control kidnapping. Whatever it takes to do that, we will have to do that. And that will require a visionary leader to do.

Security is one thing, obviously infrastructure is another thing. And by infrastructure, I mean roads bridges, water, electricity and so on. Probably, this is where the new constitution will come in. States will have to have significant power to control their own security, control their own infrastructure development and have an ombudsman, as it were that can monitor the use of funds to achieve these goals. It is one thing to want to do that, but if you are given and abuse the funds in the name of security by just giving it to ordinary people, that doesn't make sense.

2015 is just around the corner; are you aspiring for anything?
If they want me to run, that is different from me wanting to run. I think that I can offer the people of Delta State the change that they need; the change that they can trust. I will like to run because I see myself as somebody that can bring in the change the state itself needs and deserves. Come 2015, I will like to throw my hat into the ring and say I will want to be part of the process of running for the leadership of the state. I am going to run for the people of Delta State rather than for myself and I hope I will be different from my peers who also want to run because I am quite passionate about that. I believe in the legacy for my people and not for myself. It is going to be the paramount reason for running.

Minister heads c’ttee

. Victims to receive compensation
Members of the Boko Haram sect will be given a 60-day window within which to disarm under a Federal Government dialogue and amnesty programme announced yesterday.
President Goodluck Jonathan named a 26-member committee, headed by Special Duties Minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, which will engage in talks with the sect and come up with a disarmament and amnesty framework.
The committee will also develop a support programme for victims of the Boko Haram crisis as well as produce mechanisms to address the underlying causes of insurgencies, presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said in a statement in Abuja yesterday.
Members of the committee include Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, former Federal permanent secretary Hakeem Baba Ahmed, former external affairs minister Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, secretary to the Borno State Government Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda, leader of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria Dr. Ibrahim Datti Ahmed, former Senator Abubakar Sodangi, former Kaduna State governor Senator Ahmed Makarfi, House of Representatives member Mohammed Bello Matawalle and Amb. Zakari Ibrahim.
Others are human rights activist Shehu Sani, Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed, Malam Adamu S. Ladan, Dr. Joseph Golwa, secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) retired Col. Musa Shehu, AVM A. I. Shehu, Mr. R. I. Nkemdirim, DIG P. I. Leha, Prof. Nur Alkali, Malam Salihu Abubakar, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Lugga, Barrister Ibrahim Tahir, retired Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo, retired Group Capt. Bilal Bulama, Sheikh Abubakar Tureta, and a committee secretary who will be a representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The Presidency statement said: “Following the consideration yesterday (Tuesday) by the National Security Council of the report of the technical committee it set up to review fresh modalities for addressing security challenges in the North, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the constitution of a Presidential committee to constructively engage key members of Boko Haram and define a comprehensive and workable framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the country.
“The committee’s terms of reference will include developing a framework for the granting of amnesty; setting up of a framework through which disarmament could take place within a 60-day time frame; the development of a comprehensive victims’ support programme, and the development of mechanisms to address the underlying causes of insurgencies that will help to prevent future occurrences.”
‘Not likely to work’
Soon after government formed the committee, one of the members Shehu Sani declined his appointment on the grounds that he was not consulted beforehand and that the key people who could help solve the Boko Haram crisis were not included.
“I was not consulted on the issue of amnesty neither was I consulted before the inclusion of my name into the committee. I humbly decline to be part of the committee,” he told Daily Trust by telephone.
Sani said there are essential things that are needed to be done before the constitution of the committee, otherwise it may not achieve any meaningful success.
He urged the Federal Government to release detained women and children of Boko Haram members as a way of encouraging the group to embrace dialogue. He also said government should give access to the National Human Rights Commission and civil rights groups to detained sect members.
Three others named on the amnesty committee also said they were not contacted. Colonel Musa Shehu said at about 4pm yesterday: “I don’t know I’m one of the committee members because nobody contacted me. You are just breaking the news to me.”
Dr. Baba-Ahmed said he was told that he is on the committee around 5pm but that he would not make any comment.
Sheik Lemu similarly said he was not contacted but added he won’t decline to serve on the panel.
The committee was formed two weeks after President Jonathan signalled a change of mind from his initial resistance to consider amnesty for the sect, which calls itself Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lid Da’awati Wal Jihad. In reaction to a call by Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar and other Northern leaders last month, Jonathan said there was no way he could grant amnesty to ghosts.
But two weeks ago, the president raised a committee of National Security Council members to study the workability of granting amnesty to the sect, which has waged an insurgency that left thousands dead in the North since 2009.
Reacting to the constitution of the panel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Yahaya Mahmud said it was clear the use of force would not solve the Boko Haram crisis.
“It’s just political and economic, not religious,” he said. “Generally, people have come to believe that there are three different people or groups including the followers of late Muhammad Yusuf, criminals acting under the name Boko Haram and people being used to de-stabilise the North and the country.”
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which has been among the most vociferous opponents of granting amnesty to Boko Haram, said its position remains unchanged. When contacted for comments yesterday, CAN secretary general Musa Asake said: “I saw the news on TV this evening. We won’t say anything for now. But our position has not changed.”
For his part, spokesman for the Northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Sunday Oibe, said: “We have also just heard about the constitution of the committee so we will want to know the details and the composition of the committee before we make any comment.”
Arms proliferation committee
President Jonathan also yesterday constituted another committee on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, according to Abati, “in keeping with his pledge that Nigeria will work with the United Nations and other countries to stem the worrisome proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and their use in creating insecurity and instability in Nigeria and other developing nations.”
The committee is to be headed by Amb. Emmanuel Imohe, with Amb. Martin I. Uhomoibhi, Amb. T. Dan Hart, Amb. Ghali Umar, Amb. B. G. Wakil and Mr. Opelusi Olureti as members. Other members are representatives of the Interior Ministry, National Security Adviser, director-general of the State Security Service (SSS), National Intelligence Agency, Federal Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence, Defence Intelligence Agency, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Customs Service, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Director, International Organisations Department of the Foreign Affairs Ministry who will serve as secretary.
Both committees will be inaugurated by President Jonathan at on Wednesday at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Surprisingly, the Nigerian government is talking about granting us amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant you a pardon.

With the above statement, fundamentalist Islamist sect, Boko Haram, punctured the much talked about amnesty being proposed by the federal government, amidst mounting pressure from some sections of Nigerians, especially the Northern elite. To these ones, the practical way the government can put a stop to the recurrent bloodletting in the country is by granting official pardon to the sect as it was done to militants in the Niger Delta and then rehabilitating them into the larger family of Nigeria.

While many of these elites are soliciting and advocating amnesty for Boko Haram, none bothered to enquire from the sect and its leaders if it really wanted to make peace with the government by accepting the olive branch extended to it by the government. It is also apparent that these amnesty advocates do not have any option available to explore in the eventuality that the sect rejects the amnesty.

But to many right thinking Nigerians, who have been following the pro- and anti- amnesty debate over the past two weeks or so, the statement by the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, rejecting the idea of amnesty from the federal government was more than anticipated. This is because the sect had never for one day asked or begged the government for amnesty. From all indications, the sect has belied the federal government’s ‘we are winning the war’ and ‘we are on top of the situation’ rhetoric whenever a bomb goes off, leaving in its trail death and destruction. Despite massive manhunt by operatives of Joint Task Force (JTF), the sect is becoming emboldened on a daily basis.

By advocating for pardon for Boko Haram, the Northern elites and other amnesty backers have therefore turned themselves into unsolicited spokespersons for the sect. While they believe amnesty to the sect will be the magical elixir needed to put an end to the insurgency quagmire still beats the imagination of many Nigerians. Why advocate amnesty for a sect that has not hidden its desire to forcefully convert a multi –religious country like Nigeria into an Islamic nation, beginning with Mr. President and his household? Some critics have asked. They also ask: What has happened to freedom of religion and association as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic? These were part of reactions to the setting up of the amnesty committee for Boko Haram by the Federal Government.

The report that President Goodluck Jonathan had set up an amnesty committee after the National Security Council (NSC) meeting, preceded by a parley he had hours earlier with the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), was greeted with mixed reactions from concerned Nigerians. While many condemned the president for pandering to the wishes and desires of the Northern elders, others believe the move is a welcome development if it can achieve the objectives for which it was intended.

Former military Head of State and Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), during a recent visit to Ikenne, Ogun State threw his weight behind the federal government’s consideration of clemency for the sect, and lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for the establishment of the amnesty committee.

Buhari who likened the Boko Haram insurgency to what obtains in the Niger Delta said whatever should be done by the federal government to ensure lasting peace in the country should be given utmost priority and attention by the federal government.

“It is good that they have set up a committee on amnesty. I have not seen the terms of reference but it is a right step in the right direction. This is not the first time amnesty would be given to a violent group. You remember it happened in the time of Yar’Adua when he gave amnesty to the militant groups (in the Niger Delta). Whatever it takes to bring peace as a society, we should do it,” he said.

Buhari’s position, however, differed from that of former Presidential candidate, Olapade Agoro, who condemned the move saying amnesty to the group will be counter-productive as the federal government will be empowering the group to continue the onslaught on a greater magnitude while also encouraging other would-be terrorists to take up arms against the government.

His words: “First and foremost, Mr. President is already mortgaging his position. He is telling the world that he lacks the will expected to deal with terrorism and insurgency. How can a man that said Boko Haram members have infiltrated his government now turn around and say they are faceless? It will be stupid of any leader to talk of granting Boko Haram amnesty. By the time you give them money in the name of amnesty, you are empowering them to continue the onslaught. You are giving them enough fuel and arming them to fight the nation. The Northern elders know Mr. President is hotly pursuing 2015 ambition. What they are waiting for is enough money to arm their insurgent groups and to have enough resources to campaign against the president. That is all. So, by listening to the Northern leaders’ call for amnesty, Jonathan wants to arm the sect against himself.

“Before we talk of amnesty for Boko Haram, they must first come into the open, hand over all their war weapons, surrender them to the Federal Government. Then you can begin to talk of amnesty. That is the way it operated in the Niger Delta. They first came to the open, then surrendered their weapons and all Nigerians saw it, and then they were granted amnesty and there was ceasefire. But how can we talk about granting amnesty to Boko Haram? We don’t even know them, neither do we know the weapons they use, while Sultan of Sokoto is talking about granting them amnesty. The fight by the Niger Delta militants is to draw attention to their plight, but Boko Haram, we don’t know what they are fighting for.

“The process of amnesty must first begin with being remorse. Let the sect come out and say we are no longer fighting. Until that is done, the talk of amnesty is completely ruled out.”

In his reaction, Secretary-General of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), Senator Anthony Adefuye, had also condemned the move, saying Boko Haram has not shown any remorse to warrant being granted amnesty by the government.

He said: “You grant amnesty to those who offend you, even before they surrender, I don’t think that is good enough. Before you grant amnesty, you must capture the opponent first, and then he will surrender to you and then you grant amnesty for the purpose of peace. But what we are trying to do is to institutionalize revolt. Anybody can now confront and attack you and cause mayhem, once you cannot stop him, you begin to negotiate amnesty with the belief that if we don’t grant them amnesty, they will continue to bomb and destroy our pipelines. See, we are not a nation yet. Any nation that is doing that is not a nation.

“Nations must be strong and have a standing army to defend both internally and externally and you must defend in such a way that the terrorist, insurgents or militants will accept you as a superior power and then you now grant amnesty. But not anybody just going about bombing churches, mosques and killing innocent Nigerians. Now, how can you grant amnesty to a faceless people. Now, militants in the South South have been granted amnesty, now Boko Haram, and you are going to grant them amnesty and, of course, it will also become the turn of the South West – OPC will also start and at the end of the day, after losing so many lives, you grant amnesty.”

To some sections of Nigeria, President Jonathan has been vindicated by the sect’s rejection of the amnesty offer. Before the amnesty committee was set up, the belief of the Northern elders was that amnesty to the sect is the only solution to the insecurity crises rocking the nation. By the President’s initial position of “not granting amnesty to faceless ghosts”, thus rejecting the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar’s appeal for amnesty for the sect, many also labeled the president as an enemy of the north who takes delight in the Pakistanisation of the region’s economy.

Notwithstanding, some observers have asked, now that the Federal Government has decided to embrace the amnesty option which Boko Haram has rejected, what next? Will the proponents of amnesty call on the government to apply force in quelling the insurgency or will they continue to cajole and appeal to the group to accept the amnesty offer, especially when the group cannot be said to be fighting a justifiable war?

In their views, if the Mountain does not come to Mohammned, Mohammed will surely go to the Mountain. If Boko Haram believes granting amnesty to the federal government for the killing of its founder, Yusuf Muhammed, is the only way to put an end to the orgy of killings that has dispatched thousands of Nigerians to the great beyond and rendered many others incapacitated for life, then it should go ahead.

According to them, the Federal Government has fired the first shot on the amnesty offer to Boko Haram but if Boko Haram believes it should be the other way round, let them pardon the Federal Government and sheathe their swords. Enough of bloodletting in the country. We must join hands to build a strong, virile, united and prosperous Nigeria.