A leading member of Nigerian President Goodluck
Jonathan’s Boko Haram Committee has expressed confidence the panel will come up
with recommendations to help resolve Nigeria’s internal security crisis.
“As soon as the committee is inaugurated, I don’t
think the chairman will waste time in convening the meeting and the beginning
of the work. So we are looking forward to that,” said Sheikh Lemu, Boko Haram
Committee leading member.
Officials say Mr. Jonathan will officially
inaugurate the commission this week. Lemu says the group will objectively
look at the security problems with the aim of coming up with effective
solutions to the crisis.
“The group has many people of integrity, many people
who have concern for peace security as well as development of Nigeria as a
whole. Therefore, I’m optimistic that we shall look into the problem very
objectively and give our advice in the form of recommendations to Mr.
President,” said Lemu.
The committee has been tasked with engaging key
members of the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram in a dialogue to end the
violence by developing a framework that could lead to disarmament and
compensation for victims of the group’s violent insurgency within 60
days. But some Nigerians are skeptical about the prospects of the panel’s
work, saying successive governments have failed to consider or implement
recommendations of other groups tasked with solving the country’s challenges.
“The problem is that over the years other crisis
that have happened in Nigeria, the government of the day will appoint a
committee or commission, they will [present] their report [but] the government
will dump it aside, and then the problem will recur,” Lemu said.
But he is hopeful Mr. Jonathan’s government will
consider the group’s recommendations.
“Seeing that the government of the day has suffered
from all that is happening in the country, we feel optimistic that whatever
recommendations that this great body will give, the government will do
something about it and we shall see positive results,” continued Lemu, “and
with that optimism, I agreed to serve on the panel and I’m sure that something
good will come out of it.”
Lemu agreed that expectations among Nigerians are
high about finding solutions to the growing insecurity in parts of the country
often carried out by Boko Haram. He says there is need for improved
security.
“What every Nigerian, the commission members as well
as any other common man look forward to is security in the country, peace, and
stability peaceful coexistence. And the war forward is this peaceful
coexistence, security and progress that is it because everybody is worried,’
said Lemu.
Members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect have been
accused of carrying out violent attacks in an attempt to force the country to
adopt strict Islamic law.
Human Rights Watch says Boko Haram-related violence
has killed an estimated 3,000 people since 2009, a toll that includes killings
by security forces.
Sources :
http://www.voanews.com/content/nigeria-boko-haram-commission-in-dialogue-to-end-violence/1646027.html
No comments:
Post a Comment