Shehu Sani Rejects Appointment to Serve in Boko Haram Amnesty Committee
A human rights activist, Shehu Sani, has declined to serve in the 26-member Presidential Committee empanelled by President Goodluck Jonathan to constructively engage key members of the extremist Boko Haram sect.
The committee is also to define comprehensive and workable framework for resolving insecurity in the country.
But
in a post on his Facebook page on Wednesday night, Mr. Sani suggested
he was not consulted before the appointment and announced he won’t serve
on the committee
“My
friends called me this afternoon to inform me that they saw my name on
the list of the Presidential committee on Amnesty,” Mr. Sani said. “This
is to thank our president for giving me such an honour and
consideration. However, I humbly and respectably wish to decline to
serve as member.
“My
advice remains: Reach out to the persons I mentioned their names in my
interviews in the dailies to
discreetly consult with the group to get
their input on the idea. Thanks.”
Mr.
Sani has repeatedly criticized the federal government over its handling
of the Boko Haram insurgency. He had suggested that journalist Ahmad
Salkida, who had reported extensively on the insurgency, should be
engaged to reach out to the leadership of the violent sect.
President
Jonathan had on Wednesday constituted the Presidential Committee
following months of pressure on him to grant amnesty to members of the
group.
Apart
from engaging members of the Boko Haram sect, the panel is also to
define comprehensive and workable framework for resolving insecurity in
the country.
The
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati,
who disclosed this to State House correspondents at a press briefing at
the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the 26-member amnesty committee
would be chaired by the Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, while
a representative of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of
the Federation will serve as Secretary.
Apart
from Mr. sani, other members are, Ahmed Lemu, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Musa
Shehu (rtd.), Abubakar Tureta, Datti Ahmed and Abubakar Sodangi.
Also
in the committee are Ahmed Makarfi, Mohammed Matawalle, Zakari Ibrahim,
Naja’atu Mohammed, Adamu Ladan, Joseph Golwa, A.I. Shehu and R.I
Nkemdirim.
Other
members are, P. I. Leha, Nura Alkali, Salihu Abubakar, Abubakar Sani
Lugga,Ibrahim Tahir, Ibrahim Sab, Baba Ahmed Jidda, Bilal Bulama, and
Bolaji Akinyemi
Mr.
Abati said the decision to set up the committee was sequel to the
consideration of the report of the technical committee set up by the
National Security Council on insecurity in the Northern part of the
country.
He
listed the committee’s terms of reference to include, developing a
framework for the granting of amnesty and setting up of a framework
through which disarmament could take place within a 60-day time frame.
Mr.
Abati said the committee would also develop a comprehensive victims’
support programme, and mechanisms to address the underlying causes of
insurgencies that will help to prevent future occurrences.
He said the president also constituted a Federal Government committee on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
The
constitution of the second committee, according to Mr. Abati, is in
keeping with Nigeria’s pledge to work with the UN and other countries to
stem “the worrisome proliferation of small arms and light weapons’’.
” The president said the use of such weapons was creating insecurity and instability in Nigeria and other developing nations.’’
The
17-member Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons is chaired by
Emmanuel Imohe, while the Director, Department of International
Organisation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will serve as Secretary.
Other
members are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Martin Uhomoibhi, T.D. Hart, Ghali Umar, M.G. Wakil and Opelusi Olureti.
Others
are a representative each from the Ministry of Interior, Office of the
National Security Adviser, Office of the Director General, State
Security Services and the National Intelligence Agency
Also
on the committee are a representative each of the Federal Ministries of
Justice and Defence; Defence Intelligence Agency, the Nigeria Customs
Services and Office of the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation.
M.
Abati said the president would formally inaugurate the committees on
Wednesday, April 24, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
