Senate President David Mark and some senators expressed differing positions on the issue of amnesty for the Boko Haram Islamist sect in Lagos during a 3-day retreat for the Senate Committee on Constitution Review headed by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
While Mark cautioned Nigerians to desist from making comments that could inflame passion concerning the proposed amnesty to members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, but should wait till the committee set up by Federal Government to look into the matter concluded its assignment, Senators Uche Chukwumerije and Chris Ngige were of the opinion that the Supreme Court verdict that the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Nwazuruike, should be tried for treason while amnesty was being considered for members of the Boko Haram sect, would be considered a continuous persecution of the Igbo.
Senator Mark, while speaking with newsmen shortly after declaring the event open, described the security situation as it affected Boko Haram and ongoing efforts at giving amnesty to members of dreaded sect as very delicate.
He thus counselled that given the implication, it was better that people refrained from making comments that could escalate the security situation in the country.
“Wait till the committee concludes its work. I think it is better people don’t just make comment anyhow, it is a very delicate situation and it is better even for you the media not to ask anymore question because the issue is delicate.”
The Senate President also spoke on the on-going constitution review, lamenting that leadership remained the bane of Nigeria and not the absence of laws to steer the ship of the country.
However, Senator Chukwumerije said giving amnesty to people who take up arms against the country is worrisome while MASSOB leader is standing trial for treason before the court of law.
Chukwurije declared that such a discriminatory approach amounted to continuation of Civil War against the Igbo.
“When you continue to treat people like this because you think their time is up, you are creating a large cesspool which one day will explode. It happened at the end of the First World War among the Germans,” he warned.
Also speaking on the same issue, Senator Ngige, who was former governor of Anambra State, said he saw no reason for the arraignment of the MASSOB leader arguing that he could decide to call himself any name and that could not justify his arraignment for treason.