Nigerians Express Views Over Federal Govt And Boko Haram Ceasefire Agreement
Nigerians have been expressing their views, following the ceasefire agreement the Federal Government said it recently signed with Islamist sect Boko Haram.
While some laud the Federal Government’s effort, others express their disappointment as they believe the sins of the sect were unparadonable.
In his reaction, National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams said it was a step in the right direction. In a telephone chat with newsmen, he said: “It is a step in the right direction and I think from there, they will create room to dialogue with the Federal Government and state their position.
“They cannot continue to waste lives just like that. I don’t know what they stand for but no matter what they
stand for, their approach is wrong and deadly. Nobody in the world will support their struggle. But calling for a ceasefire will afford Nigerians the opportunity to know exactly what they want.”
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere was however skeptical of the recent development, saying the identity of the group calling for ceasefire should be ascertained. Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin said, “We should be sure which of the Boko Haram sect is calling for a ceasefire.
“The identity of the group should be ascertained and its genuineness should be known before the Federal Government is taken off guard. Since emergency was declared in those three states (Yobe, Adamawa and Borno), the incidence of bombings has gone down but killings continue here and there. So, we must know how genuine the call is and the identity of the group calling for the ceasefire. Was it not Boko Haram that said it was the Federal Government that needed amnesty?”
Also reacting on the development, former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa expressed optimism that the ceasefire will resolve the insurgency.
“We hope that the Federal Government will respond favourably and effectively to the ceasefire,” he said.
