Repent, Apologise Before Amnesty,Cardinal Onaiyekan Tells Boko Haram

Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, yesterday, backed the call by the Sultan of Sokoto for the granting of amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect, as a means of achieving peace in the north.
However, before the pardon, the clergy wants members of the sect to seek repentance for the large number of persons and property they have destroyed without any justification.
Cardinal Onaiyekan, who stated this in his Easter massage, noted that although government had power to give state pardon to criminals, it must be done with caution.
According to the Cardinal, the sect must seek forgiveness and repentance, so that it would not appear as if the members had done the right thing and were being persuaded to seek pardon from the government.
He said, “as regards the case of an offer of amnesty to the Boko Haram, I believe that we should not throw away outright the consideration of such amnesty. Faced with an intractable problem, we have to explore all possible avenues of solution. The security response in terms of arms, gadgets and trained personnel is useful and necessary, but obviously not enough on its own.
“Government does well to reach out to all political forces and currents, so that the nation can be on the same political page and jointly address this common menace, which terrorism is.
“Under such an atmosphere of common efforts, the call for amnesty would seem to me quite appropriate and even necessary. I therefore see the call of the Sultan as an invitation to further discussion and dialogue among Nigerians to sharpen the focus of government action in this matter.
“That discussion has started, for which we should thank the Sultan and his courageous proposal. In every conflict, a time comes when dialogue and talking must be brought into the equation, in view of final solution.
 

“But before the Boko Haram can be seriously considered for amnesty, they must meet the two conditions mentioned earlier for forgiveness, namely repentance and amendment. Before they are eligible for any amnesty, they must at least admit that they were wrong to be killing innocent people, whatever may have been their grievances. If this is not done, they could well continue to feel that they did the right thing and perhaps, it is the rest of us who ought to beg them for pardon.”
The Archbishop urged the government to address the growing problems of poverty and unemployment and promote good governance so as to give the people justifiable reasons for electing them into the office they are occupying.
Govt should address poverty, unemployment
“We have to find ways of getting ourselves out of the tight grip of these two evils (insecurity and massive corruption).  It will require not only legal approach but also wise political moves and quiet diplomatic efforts as well as the input from the spiritual leadership of the country.
“This means that the problem of Nigeria is the problem of all of us and we must find a way of putting our heads together to change our ways of doing things so that a great nation can emerge.
On the pardon granted the former Bayelsa State governor, the Onaiyekan said it was a setback to the fight against graft.
Slams FG for Alams pardon
“Obviously, the State must handle very carefully whatever powers it has to forgive criminals otherwise the whole structure of law and order in the society will be seriously compromised. There may be political considerations but these cannot be allowed to overthrow moral imperatives.
“It is alleged that a lot of the stolen money is not lost. It is said to be somewhere invested in one way or the other.  That money belongs to the Nigerian people and it must be given back to them. How this will be done should be part of the conditions that would have to be worked out in the process for pardon.
“Whatever government decides to do in this matter, it must not forget that the issue of corruption in high places is of major concern to Nigerians. Much has been said about fighting corruption. But people are fast losing confidence in the sincerity of government to turn the tide.
“Pardon for high profile corruption cases will certainly reduce further whatever is left of the confidence of the people. This has serious political and social fall-out that government cannot afford to ignore”.

Nigerian Bishop Urges Boko HaramTo Unmask Before Seeking Amnesty

  A newly-installed Bishop of Akure Diocese Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Reverend Simeon Borokini, yesterday, challenged members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, to unmask first before amnesty could be discussed.
Borokini argued that as long as they remained faceless, “it will be difficult for the Federal Government to offer amnesty to a faceless group.
He, however, decried the level of insecurity brought about by the activities of the group on Nigerians. The clergyman, who was installed as the new bishop of the diocese last week, said: “The people should come out and show their faces as this would aid meaningful dialogue that anybody may want to have with them.”
While regretting that many lives had been lost to the activities of the group, he asked government to take a decisive step to stop the group from further killing of Nigerians.
Borokini called for a change in the priorities set by Nigerian leaders, noting that this had affected the peace of the country.
He said: “The peace in the country has been affected by the priorities set by the leaders and the people. The country’s priority has been wrongly set because God has been neglected for crude oil, materialism and worldliness which have resulted in insecurity in Nigeria.”
He said the church would revamp its prison ministry and hospital outreaches to further give hope to the people as part of his plan for the Diocese.
Borokini said a chaplain would be appointed to take charge of the frontier ministry to preach the message of hope to the prisoners as they needed to be encouraged.
He promised to strive to create a conducive spiritual and enabling environment that would lead to the unity of members of the diocese, saying “we have an enormous task ahead of us, we must build our broken walls.
“We must come together as one. United we stand as a family and divided we fall. Akure Anglican diocese is one.”

Most Nigerian politicians Not God-fearing- Nigerian Gov's Wife

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, says the majority of Nigerian politicians are not God-fearing and are insensitive to the plight of the citizens.
Fashola said this during the 2013 National Women Prayer Summit organised by Awesome Treasures Foundation in Lagos on Saturday.
She said, “God-fearing persons are the politicians we are looking for in Nigeria. Such leaders are the ones that will love us and do what pleases God and people.
“But if you are a politician and you do not have God in your heart, then you are working on your own and for men.”

Fashola, who led a prayer session, said the myriad of problems in Nigeria today was because the leaders were disconnected from the people.
She urged the leaders to utilise the wealth of the nation for the benefit of the citizens, stressing that until they started to feel the pulse of the governed, things would not get better.
She said the way out of insecurity in the country was simply love, adding that the moment “we love ourselves – the first foundation in the Bible, insecurity will be over”.
She commended Awesome Treasures Foundation for the summit, saying it had raised their spiritual level and acquainted them with things around.
“My message for Nigerians is that they should keep praying, keep working and keep acting your own part well so that we can have a progressive nation,”Fashola said.
Founder and President, ATF, Mrs. Jumoke Adenowo, reminded the audience of the efficacy of prayers, saying Nigerians needed it more than ever before.
She said for the country to make meaningful progress, there was the urgent need to engage in nation building through youth empowerment, prayers, strengthening of institutions and enthronement of upstanding leaders.
She said, “The summit is one of the vehicles the foundation uses to reach out to women and youths across the country. The women are the conscience of the nation and are better equipped to deal with problems if endowed with the proper guidance.
“The ATF is to transform the lives of women and youths in the society through direct intervention in their lives by engaging them in practical goals. This is done by training them in various skills and crafts and providing financial assistance to enable them to set up businesses.”

Pope Francis Calls For Peace In Nigeria.Others

  Pope Francis used his first Easter Sunday address to call for peace in the world and appealed for a diplomatic solution to the crisis torn countries and regions of the world such the Korean peninsula, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Mail and the Central Republic of Africa.

The Pope decried the continued insurgent attacks in Nigeria when he prayed for Africa and and referred to Mali and Nigeria, “where attacks sadly continue.” He sued for peace across the world.

In his first “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message, Francis also called for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, an end to the civil war in Syria, and political solutions to conflicts in several African countries.

He singled out “dear Syria”, saying: “How much blood has been shed!

And how much suffering must there still be before a political solution is found?”

Later in his speech, Pope Francis said: “We ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace.”

The Pope then mentioned troubled regions of the world in turn.

“Peace for the Middle East, and particularly between Israelis and

Palestinians, who struggle to find the road of agreement, that they may willingly and courageously resume negotiations to end a conflict that has lasted all too long.

“Peace in Iraq, that every act of violence may end, and above all for  dear Syria, for its people torn by conflict and for the many refugees who await help and comfort.”

For Africa, the Pope referred to Mali, Nigeria – “where attacks sadly continue” – the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African  Republic.

He added: “Peace in Asia, above all on the Korean peninsula: may disagreements be overcome and a renewed spirit of reconciliation grow.”

Pope Francis concluded by saying: “Peace in the whole world, still  divided by greed looking for easy gain, wounded by the selfishness which threatens human life and the family, selfishness that continues in human trafficking, the most extensive form of slavery in this 21st Century.”

“Peace to the whole world, torn apart by violence linked to drug trafficking and by the iniquitous exploitation of natural resources!

Peace to this our Earth! May the risen Jesus bring comfort to the victims of natural disasters and make us responsible guardians of  creation.”

Nigerian VP,Emir Warn Preachers Against inciting Preachings

Vice President Namadi Sambo and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Sunday called on Muslim clerics in the country to refrain from delivering sermons capable of causing a breach  of peace in the country.

They urged the clerics to continue to promote unity, peace and security of the nation in their daily preachings.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Umar Sani, they made the call at the closing ceremony of the 27th Qur’anic  Recitation Competition in Gusau, Zamfara State.

Sambo, while noting the significant role being played by the clerics by providing spiritual guidance to Muslims, urged them to continue to ensure proper and accurate interpretation of the Holy Book in order to guide their followers  in their daily affairs.

“We must commend the Ulamas who have always provided spiritual guidance to Muslims. While we note with delight their efforts at ensuring the proper and accurate interpretation of the Holy book to guide Muslims in their day-to-day conduct, we urge them to place the unity, peace and security of the nation as an important element in their daily preaching,” he said.

Sambo reiterated the Federal Government’s drive towards the provision of qualitative basic education to all children of school age.

He said the government had already developed a model which integrates Western and Islamic education.

He stated that contracts had been awarded for some schools for out-of-school children and Almajiris, some of which have been completed and commissioned.

Speaking earlier,  Governor Abdul Aziz Yari stated that by the various representations drawn from across the states, the event had provided an avenue for strenghtening unity and cordiality among the Ummah.

Abubakar called on the Ummah to uphold the tenets of Islam.

The Sultan assured governments at all levels of their readiness to assist in bringing solutions to problems affecting the country.

High point of the event was the turbaning of the male winner (Gwarzon shekara) and the veiling of female winner (Gwarzuwar Shekara) who were the two winners of the First category from Kano and Bauchi states respectively.

Various dignitaries graced the occasion amongst whom were formerPresident Shehu Shagari, former Zamfara state Governor Ahmed Yerima, past and serving Governors, Ministers and Diplomats.

Nigerian Christians Advocate Compensation For Boko Haram Victims

 Christian Association of Nigeria on Tuesday frowned on the Presidential Committee on Boko Haram report, which recommended that victims of the sect’s attacks needed no compensation.

The CAN General Secretary, Dr. Musa Asake, told one of our correspondents that anything short of compensation would amount to a travesty of justice.

He said, “With that type of statement, it will be difficult for CAN to say anything because we don’t know the type of compensation they are talking about. We cannot take a position in an issue that is not clear. But our stand has been that government should compensate victims of Boko Haram incessant attacks and that has been our position and we are not changing our stand.

“We will continue to push for compensation and we are not going into a fight with them. We are going to continue to make our demands for compensation. That is the right thing to do, that is the best thing to do and that is what the government can do to show its concern over what has happened.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin chapter, Mr. Rafiu Balogun has appealed to the Federal Government to consider granting amnesty to Boko Haram members.

Speaking  in Ilorin on Tuesday at a legal education retreat, he said granting amnesty to the sect could result in peace and security.

The Federal Government, he said, had not been able to stop the growing destruction of human lives and properties even with the Joint Task  Force.

He said, “The Federal Government should consider the proposed amnesty for members of Boko Haram.  If not for anything, if the process will bring about peace that has eluded part of the North and nor gradually crept into other parts of the nation. If it will abate the wanton destruction of lives and properties, then let us imbibe it.”

Corruption:Nigerian Church Advocates Excommunication Of Indicted Members

Igbobini Diocese of Methodist Church Nigeria has advocated total excommunication of any church member indicted of corrupt practices either in the public service or private sector as a springboard for anti-corruption campaign in churches.

The church gave the advice in a statement at the end of its 30th annual synod presided over by the diocesan Bishop of Igbobini, Rt. Rev’d Olukayode Ajiboye, held at the Methodist Church Cathedral, Okitipupa, Ondo State.

The church noted that the war against corruption in the country could only be won when religious institutions joined hands with the various anti-graft agencies set up by government to fight the scourge.

It noted that the theme of the synod, ‘What if the Lord had not been by our side’, was enough caution for everybody in the country to “re-appraise themselves by doing things that will glorify the Lord in whatever they do”.

The synod also noted with concern, the current state of the Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo, established by the Methodist Church Nigeria,  and stressed the urgent need for financial support for the institution.

The statement read, “The synod hereby advise the Methodist Church Nigeria to show a greater concern for the growth and sustenance of WUSTO.

“Igbobini Diocese must also demonstrate aggressive support for the university because WUSTO must not die.”

The statement added that the four-day deliberation of the synod also advocated a better relationship between the church and the government for the benefit of Nigerians.

Towards this end, the synod advised government at all levels against imposing taxes on churches.