Popular politician, Buba Galadima has backed the call for amnesty for bandits championed by popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.
Gumi has been advocating “blanket amnesty” for bandits as had been done for Niger Delta militants, noting that bandits learnt kidnapping from Niger Delta militants.
However, many prominent Nigerians and groups, including Afenifere and Maj.-Gen. Ishola Williams (rtd), condemned the cleric’s proposal, describing it as “nonsense”.
The Federal Government has also ruled out any amnesty for bandits, charging the military to redouble its efforts to rid the nation of the menace.
Reacting, Galadima said he supported any course of action that would help bring peace to the country.
Asked he supported granting amnesty to bandits, he told Sunday Sun, “Is amnesty just starting with the bandits? Didn’t government pay amnesty to other groups?”
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He added, “Didn’t Yar’Adua grant amnesty to the other group and sorted out problems? In Nigeria, we must speak the truth. What is good for the geese must be good for the gander.
“If amnesty can bring peace, what is the issue about it? Even if you fight a war, in the end, you will sit round the table to sort out issues. Is that not amnesty? Didn’t Nigerian government give amnesty to rebels in 1970s?”
Galadima said it was untrue that bandits do not have genuine agitations that could form the basis for negotiating amnesty.
Asked to highlight the agitations, Galadima said, “You don’t know that they complain that their governors have stolen all the money in the local government and there is no economic activities happening for them to be gainfully employed.
“You don’t know that their cattle have been stolen by the rustlers?
“We should look at things as Nigerians, not profiling other people. We should stop profiling any group. That will not bring solution.
“The truth of the matter is that unless and until the governors release monies meant for local governments for economic activities to pick up at the grassroots level, you will never sleep with your eyes closed.”