[THE GUARDIAN NG] Boko Haram’s Rejection of Ceasefire Vindicates Oritsejafor, says Northern CAN SUNDAY, 14 JULY 2013 21:34 FROM SAXONE AKHAINE (KADUNA) AND TUNDE AKINOLA (LAGOS) OFFICIALS of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Sunday said that the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has been vindicated for expressing doubts over the reported ceasefire deal reached between the Islamist terrorists group, Boko Haram, and the Federal Government. The Chairman, Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Kabiru Turaki, had last Monday announced the deal, while adding that the group, which had claimed the mass murder of at least 4,000 persons since 2009, had asked for forgiveness from its surviving victims. But CAN under the leadership of Oritsejafor said it doubted the credibility of the claim, saying that Boko Haram was too extreme and divided to have endorsed the ceasefire deal. Oritsejafor recalled past situations when certain members of the group came up with peace overtures only to be denied or rebuffed by the acclaimed leader of the sect, Ibrahim Shekau. Last week’s comments by Oritsejafor drew the ire of the leading northern organisation, the Arewa Consultative Council (ACF) and the coalition of northern politicians, academics, professionals and businessmen, among others. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Northern CAN, Sunday Oibe, while speaking with newsmen yesterday, argued: “The pronouncement by Shekau, the real leader of Boko Haram, has come to vindicate CAN and our national leader, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. Today, Boko Haram’s number one man has come to speak with scorn and contempt against the ceasefire agreement and the said feeling of remorse over their thirst for the blood of Christians and some few Muslims who go against their interest”. “Just as CAN had warned, the amnesty committee (Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North) was useless. Now, it has lied to Nigerians for want of any result.” Oibe explained further: “Shekau said that more schools and more people will be killed for learning and teaching western education in schools in the North. He is the real Boko Haram boss and his threat must be taken seriously.” “That is contrary to views of some top Christian clergy who are apologists of Boko Haram together with some northern leaders, clerics and elite. All their advice to government on this issue has failed”. “We in Northern CAN believe that the amnesty committee is useless and has failed. It lied to Nigerians about this ceasefire just to fool President Goodluck Jonathan to expand its tenure so that they can grab more money.” “All those giving President Goodluck unwise advice are either doing it for self-serving seasons, or are trying to deceive him into a blunder that will not only destroy him politically, but jeopardise the corporate existence of Nigeria.” “We want to advise our Christian brothers in vulnerable places to be extra-vigilant, including other non-Christians who may be target of the demonic antics of Boko Haram.” “Northern CAN is calling for the immediate disbandment of the amnesty committee. All monies that would be squandered on the committee should be put into supporting the joint task force and vulnerable communities in affected states. Enough of this jamboree with scarce public funds. Enough of hypocrisy.” Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANA) and Youth Wing Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) Sunday congratulated Pastor Oritsejafor on his re-election as CAN chief. A statement jointly signed by CANA Executive Director, Pastor Laolu Akande and YOWICAN Assistant General Secretary and Chairman, Diaspora Committee, Rev. John Pofi, noted that the Minister of Special Duties and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Kabiru Turaki, must create a sense of public confidence in the purported breakthrough in the committee’s assignment by clearing public doubts on the ceasefire deal. The groups said: “As we have always noted that we are not opposed to a political solution to the Boko Haram crisis, we are a people of faith, and therefore a people of reconciliation who will welcome a ceasefire, if it is for real, but the evidence of this right now is still at best very sketchy.”
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 04:34:39 +0000
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