Boko Haram: Amnesty Is Desirable – Kwara Governor

gov_abdulfatah ahmedGovernor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State on Tuesday again denied he was planning to ditch the Peoples Democratic Party.

Ahmed said this while speaking on a monthly public enlightenment programme, ‘The governor explains’.

The governor who was elected on the platform of the PDP, pledged his loyalty to the party and said he would continue to contribute to its growth.

“I am not leaving PDP. PDP is a national party. Other parties are regional. Why should I leave a big party for a small party? I will remain in PDP and work to strengthen it,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed also used the occasion to call on members of the Boko Haram sect to identify themselves and make known the reasons for their armed struggle against the people and government of Nigeria.

While stressing that there was the need for dialogue between the sect and the Federal Government, he however warned that steps must not be taken to give the impression that terrorism or lawlessness could be a way for people to draw attention to their plight and enjoy some palliatives from the government in the process.

Ahmed said, “Amnesty is a desirable for the Boko Haram to the extent that they are able to bring to the fore,  the issues they have against the system, and the government and the areas they feel short-changed as a people.

“Then we can begin to look at what manner of peace and pardon would be made available to this class of people so that we can come together again and move forward as a country.

“So it is neither here or there, you cannot stand up and say amnesty is not desirable, amnesty is desirable.

“We must begin to look at issues that we require whether they deserve amnesty or not. Let us see the face of the people we are speaking with.”