Senior Special Assistant to the President, Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

The statement read, “President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed gratitude to all Nigerians for the overwhelming support they have given to the declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. The President also thanked the leadership of the National Assembly and many of its members, who have through calls and personal visitations, given solidarity and support for this extraordinary step taken by the President in order to halt the mindless killings, bombings and general insecurity that had prevailed in that part of the country.

“The President also notes with gratification the positive disposition and understanding of the governors of the federation, especially the Northern Governors Forum, Leaders and Elders in the North, traditional rulers, religious leaders, cultural and political groups nationwide, including opposition political parties, civil society organisations and the media.

Okupe said the President was appreciative of the efforts, loyalty, commitment and sacrifice of members of the armed forces and other security agencies, who had demonstrated commendable patriotism and gallantry in compliance with the order of the Commander-in Chief.

Okupe further stated, “Mr. President also appreciates the encouragement by members of the diplomatic corps and international community, and promises that as a disciplined force, members of the Armed Forces will operate according to acceptable international rules of engagement and will pay particular attention to the safety and well-being of the citizens of the affected states during this period of emergency rule.

“Mr. President also notes that the efforts of the Armed Forces have already started yielding positive results, as available information confirm that the insurgents have been dislodged from their previous safe havens and camps, while many have been apprehended, and their activities in the affected states have been brought to a total halt.”

-Punch

It will also mediate in the conflict between Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Aloysius Etok.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, said the PDP caucus in the Senate had set up two committees to attend to the issues affecting the two states.

He briefed the press on Tuesday at the end of what he described as a routine meeting of the parties caucus in the Senate.

The meeting was attended by the President of the Senate, David Mark, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

Ndoma-Egba said, “The PDP Senate caucus just finished its meeting. You know that our caucus meetings are routine meetings. The Senate President was here in person. The Deputy Senate President was here in person.

“The entire leadership of the PDP in the Senate was here and we looked essentially at the challenges our party is facing in some states.

“We looked especially at the situation in Rivers State and Akwa Ibom State. We looked at the relationship between the governor and our colleague, Senator Aloysius Etok.

“It was decided that there was a need for the Senate PDP caucus to intervene with a view to see how we can return the two states to cordiality and normalcy and to that effect we have set up two committees to engage the dramatis personae in the two states.”

The Senate Leader, however, did not name the committees, but said the committees would start work immediately.

There had been a subtle battle between the President and Amaechi in connection with the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, which is currently receiving extensive media coverage.

Akpabio, on the other hand, is at daggers-drawn with Etok over his representation in the Senate, as the governor has declared his intention to replace the senator in the National Assembly in 2015.

Ndoma-Egba further explained that the caucus was also concerned about the clamour for the increase in the representation of members of the National Assembly in the National Executive Committee of the PDP.

He said, “Yes, there has been the clamour at the National Assembly for increased membership of its members in NEC. That has been ongoing as you are fully aware. And we are still pressing that we want a greater representation of the National Assembly in the National Executive Committee of the PDP.”

-Punch

The ex-militant leaders, who issued the warning while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Sunday, expressed sadness over an alleged plot to scheme Jonathan out of the 2015 race for the Presidency.

The former militants, who gathered under the auspices of the Niger Delta Ex-agitators Forum and the Association for Non-violence in Niger Delta, said they would see the outcome of the election as an act of God if Jonathan genuinely loses out in 2015.

NDEF President, Mr. Amaibi Ombi, cautioned that it was better to allow for a free and fair election than to manipulate the process in order to scheme out Jonathan.

On the recent comments credited to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, and Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, Ombi insisted that such statements could not be a threat to Nigeria as a country.

Dokubo-Asari had warned that Nigeria would be history if he was arrested for threatening violence in the whole country if Jonathan was not allowed to run a two-term tenure as President.

But Ombi described Dokubo-Asari’s stataement as no threat, but a statement to canvass the need for the President’s critics to allow him (Jonathan) run for two tenures in office.

“We will go back to the creeks if the 2015 presidential election is manipulated to scheme out President Goodluck Jonathan. But if the election is not manipulated, and Jonathan loses out, we would see it as the handiwork of God,” Ombi stressed.

The former militant leader claimed that some politicians, especially those from the North, were using Boko Haram to intimidate Jonathan out of the 2015 presidential election.

“They have been sending Boko Haram to harass and intimidate President Jonathan so that he will withdraw from the 2015 presidential race. Asari’s comment was not a threat; he (Dokubo-Asari) just wanted Nigerians to know that there is a need for Jonathan to go for two tenures,” the ex-fighter emphasised.

In his remark, ANND President, Mr. Kenneth West, cautioned Kuku and Dokubo-Asari against making inflamatory statements but warned against any move to arrest them over their comments on the 2015 general election.

West said some well-known political leaders in the northern part of the country had made similar comments in the past without anybody suggesting that they should be arrested.

He alleged that the corruption began in the North and wondered why nobody raised any dust on corruption when the northerners were in control of government.

“Asari only warned that in 2015, if Jonathan is not elected President, Nigeria will not be one. He was only warning; he was not threatening. If we are talking about corruption, it started from the North,” he said.

-Punch

According to the report presented by Senator Ahmed Lawan, Chairman of the committee, the said amounts cut across the Natural Resources Account, Derivation and Ecology Accounts and Stabilization Account.

The Special Funds Accounts, comprising Development of Natural Resources Account, Derivation and Ecology Account and Stabilization Account were being maintained by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Senator Ahmed Lawan in his submission said that the amount was misappropriated between 2002 and 2012 by the governments of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Late President Umaru Yar’Adua and current President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that the governments at various levels abused the Special Funds Account by making several releases not related to what the accounts were designed to achieve.

Breakdown of the report showed that N710,489,494,960.6, N149,881,359,210 and N191,780,136,241 were reportedly misused by the three administrations in the Derivation and Ecology Account; Development of Natural Resources Account and Stabilization Account respectively.

According to the committee in its report, within the period under review, the sum of one trillion, five hundred and eighteen billion, eight hundred and seventy one million, three hundred and fifty seven thousand, four hundred and twenty six naira, sixty four kobo (N1, 518, 871, 357, 426.64) was the accruals to the special funds accounts.

The sum of one trillion, two hundred and thirty five billion, one hundred and sixty six million, seven hundred and eighty one thousand, three hundred and forty seven naira, fifty two kobo (N1, 235, 166, 781, 347. 52) was the total payments from the special funds account.

Also, five hundred and eighty billion, nineteen million, six hundred and eighty two thousand, seven hundred and thirty eight naira (N580, 019, 682, 738) was released as loan; and three hundred and forty seven billion, nine hundred and ninety seven million, five hundred and eighty three thousand, and eight naira and forty one kobo (N347, 997, 583, 008.41) yet to be recovered from various loans beneficiaries.

The Report

Senator Ahmed Lawan, earlier in his presentation of the report said: “The operation of the Natural Resources Account is grossly abused because several releases under this account were not related to the intendment of the account.”

Out of a total of N329, 329, 745, 916 granted as loan, N200, 585, 790, 991. 64 is still outstanding under the Natural Resources Account; under the derivation and Ecology Account, a total of N61, 000, 000, 000.00 was granted as loan leaving an outstanding of N30, 000, 000, 000.00.

“Several approvals made from the special funds accounts do not conform to the purposes for which the funds were established; and there were no operational guidelines for the administration, regulations, approvals and procedures for the release of money from such funds.”

It also noted that loans granted from the accounts have not been paid back several years after such loans were granted.

Involve EFCC, ICPC — Ekeremadu

In his contribution, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, called on the Public Accounts committee to undertake further inquiry to determine whether loans given from the special funds accounts had been recovered.

Ekweremadu said in an event where the monies have not been recovered, the Senate should invite the EFCC and ICPC to wade into the matter, as failure to do so would be interpreted by the public as the National Assembly abdicating from its responsibilities.

He said: “Section 8(82) (of the constitution) said, no money shall be withdrawn from the consolidated revenue fund of the federation except to meet expenditure.

“In this situation, we have seen where monies meant for ecological fund are being used to develop airports, to build malls and then to build abattoir. So that is the crux of the matter. Most of them according to the report of the committee, indeed all of them, have not been recovered.

“This committee will need to do further work to ensure that they hear from the other side of the divide or this matter be referred to the EFCC or ICPC to do further investigation.”

Also commenting, the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba said the impunity shown in the report confirmed his earlier belief that the nation’s public finances still remain opaque after 14 years of democratic governance as they were under military rule.

His words: “All the misapplications of funds carried out by the executive in the special funds accounts since 2002 are clear attestations of an opaque public finances in Nigeria where for now, transparency and accountability are rules not adhered to, in anyway by the executive arm of government.”

Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi who also doubles as Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts, said: “This is sheer crass executive recklessness and the National Assembly indifference to it.”

N’Assembly to be blamed too — Mark

Meanwhile the Senate did not exonerate itself from the blame, stressing that the abuse was an indictment on the National Assembly because if they had carried out their work effectively, the problem would have been discovered before now.

Senate President David Mark, while reacting to the absence of guidelines for the operation of the special funds account, said: “We are taking it for granted that these funds exist and they can be used in any way and manner. And I think that is truly an indictment on the National Assembly. It is a wake up call for the National Assembly to do its work properly.

“It is an intervention fund in several areas and they are also specified: Development of mineral resources, Derivation and Ecology fund and Stabilization Account. Our problem here is how these funds are being utilized.”

He demanded from the Chairman of the Committee as to whether there were guidelines on the appropriation of such funds.

“It is a combination of their own personal issues and those who collect the loans and those who are given. We as Nigerian citizens and as the legislature, this is about our own collective intelligence.

“We must not under any guise sweep away these findings. Going forward this chamber must have to add a committee to make sure that the loans which were collected are refunded, and where there is a breach, such persons must be brought to book by being prosecuted.

“This impunity is ongoing; it has not stopped, because even in 2011 we could see the impunity by the coordinating minister. That means the trend continues.”

When asked whether there were guidelines, Senator Lawan said, “there is no guideline. But during the public hearing, the committee asked the permanent secretary, Ministry of Finance, how he would define special funds accounts. And he said that is a discretionary account; and what that means is that they can do whatever they want with it. But again there are document of the Ministry of Finance indicating clearly the purpose for each of these three accounts and the beneficiaries, so it is not a discretionary account but there is no guideline.

-Punch

Chief Nwanyanwu who made the remarks while receiving the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, led by its Chairman, Dr. Yunusha Tanko and Secretary, Comrade Peter Ameh at the party’s national secretariat, expressed concern that Nigerians could freely abused Dr. Jonathan not minding that the office he is holding is the highest in the land.
Nwanyanwu who was agonised by the development, said people should respect the office of Mr. President even if they don’t agree with the leadership style of the person occupying the office.

According to him, “Nigeria is practising the presidential system of government; we borrowed the system from the United States of America, USA. When President Barack Obama was re-elected President of America, there were little skirmish here and there but all these fiddled out when he was inaugurated.

“Since no American citizen has insulted Obama, but here in Nigeria, since inception of office, Jonathan is the most abused and criticised President and still continue to be.

The party chairman who charged the IPAC leaders to bring into play the mandate of the organisation by ensuring that politicians abide by the code of the conduct by desisting from blackmailing and insulting political office holders in the land.

Nwanyanwu said “we have to move from the name calling which is dominating our political life. Notwithstanding that so many people from different political platform are seeking for the same office, we must abide by the code of conduct of the game so that there won’t be violence.

He said this new leadership of IPAC must try to ensure that all registered political parties in Nigeria come together to talk of ways of helping the nation to confront some of the challenges like the unemployment, problems of transport, with a view to moving the nation forward.

In his remarks earlier, Chairman of IPAC, Dr. Yunusha Tanko urged political parties and politicians to be focused on issue based while campaigning for electoral offices instead of name calling and blackmail.

He said the organisation has concluded plans to convene all political summit at the end of the ongoing familiarisation tour of national offices all the registered parties.

He said, after these visits, the organisation will also embark on tour of State Chapters of all the parties with a view to taking the code of conduct to their domains.

-Punch

In an apparent reaction to the state of siege on Baga town in Borno State after the Friday clash between soldiers of the Multi-national Task Force (MTF) and Boko Haram Islamist insurgents, President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday while inaugurating the Boko Haram Committee, warned soldiers on duty in troubled areas of the north to be mindful of innocent citizens in the course of discharging their duties.

He also indicated that as investigation of the situation continues apace, any security operative found wanting will not be spared, stressing that routine security work should not unleash untold hardship on the people at any time.

This is just as one of the members of the committee, Barrister Aisha Wakil braved an unknown illness to attend the inauguration of the body into which she drafted barely 24 hours before the event.

-ThisDay

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. Tony Blair, Saturday expressed the hope that Nigeria could solve all of its problems through patriotic commitment to unity and progress.

The two leaders, who spoke in Lagos during the inauguration and opening ceremony of the Rock Cathedral Metropolitan Church of Christ, agreed that the current challenges facing the country could serve as building blocks for its greatness if the citizens make collective efforts.

This comes as Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, on the sidelines of the Spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, urged Nigerians and their friends not to fret over the nation’s falling oil revenue in the last one month, the reason of which she linked to drop in production level. According to her, the country has enough war chest in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to absolve the temporary shocks.

Blair, in Lagos, harped on the need for Nigerian leaders to promote equity and create opportunities for many, not few, Nigerians.

The former British Prime Minister observed that, despite the fact that the country remains a rich, most of its citizens still wallow in abject poverty.

According to Blair, equity should not be seen as a legal idea but a social one.

Noting that the task of leading and providing the right leadership is not an easy one, Blair said Nigerian leaders must make concerted efforts to give many young Nigerians, who form the bulk of the country’ population, the opportunity to actualise their potentials.

Emphasising the need for Nigerians to love one another and live together, the former Prime Minister said there is no justification to deliberately harm another person, as it is not only a crime but also an abomination before God.

President Jonathan, in his speech, noted that no country becomes great without passing through an era of discomfort.

According to him, the present generation of Nigerians must transform the country and work hard for the future.

The President also expressed the optimism that Nigeria would get over the present crisis period.

He prayed that the people who come into the Cathedral to worship would leave with renewed faith in God and love for their neighbour, as the church flourishes.

Senior Pastor of the Rock Cathedral Metropolitan Church of Christ, Paul Adefarasin preached hope of better nation, where every Nigerian would enjoy quality health and education, travel around the world with the green passport and not be discriminated against.

Adefarasin described Blair as a mentor in the noble efforts of inter-religious dialogue and urged Nigerians to believe in dialogue

Meanwhile, Okonjo-Iweala, in Washington D.C, the United States capital, said: “there have been a number of enquiries from local and international media with respect to the recent drop in oil production in Nigeria and the impact on revenue flows.

“We feel that this briefing is important because transparency in the management of the country’s finances is a key focus of the Jonathan Administration. The drop in crude oil production is due to a variety of reasons, including: loss of 150,000 barrels per caucus to recent shut-in of Shell Nembe operations; shut-in due to force majure declared at Qua Iboe Terminal, resulting in a loss of about 65,000 barrel per day and some other losses, including those of Agip and loses at Okomo, Brass and Amenam Terminals due to repair work on equipment.

“A great deal of loss in production is closely linked to oil theft and illegal bunkering, which have been going on for some time. The thefts are getting more invasive as the criminals are going beyond the outer pipelines and moving into the more sensitive pipes.

“We estimate total losses at over 300,000 barrel per day (bd). In all, we estimate that current production has dropped to between 2.1 to 2.2 million bpd leasing to revenue drop of about $1 billion (or N160 billion) a month. The current production figure is thus lower than the actual production level in 2012 and obviously lower than the projected output of 2.528 million bpd underpinning the 2013 budget, which was derived in consultation wit the NNPC,” the Minister said.

She, however, gave the assurance that the Excess Crude Account would cushion the temporary pains and ensure stabilization.

“That is why we keep emphasising that we must save for the future. As at now, we have about $7 billion in that account… The President has already taken a proactive measure and has met with the Military high Command and has directed them to take action to halt the drift.

“The President is also meeting with Shell and other Oil majors next week on how to control the loss.”

Via GUARDIAN

Jonathan is expected to arrive in Lagos on Thursday (today) en route to Ibafo in Ogun State where he will inaugurate WEMPCO’s Cold Roll Steel Plant.

But the ACN said on Wednesday that the visit was primarily aimed at scuttling its national convention today at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos. The Presidency however described the allegation as baseless and another in the series of “wolf crying” that has become the ACN trait.

The party, in a letter to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said Jonathan’s visit might lead to the closure of roads in the city, thus preventing its supporters across the country from coming for the convention.

In the letter by its National Publicity Secretary and member of its national convention planning committee, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN said the convention was meant to afford its members the opportunity to discuss the merger plan by opposition parties.

It said it feared that inability of its members to access the venue of the convention could lead to “a breach of the peace, the consequences of which no one will be able to fathom.”

The party therefore urged Fashola to advise Jonathan to either reschedule his visit or use a mode of intra-city transport, like a helicopter if he must go ahead with the visit.

The ACN letter reads, “We are concerned that based on precedent, the visit of the President may lead to the closures of key arterial roads in the city, which could prevent thousands of our supporters coming to Lagos from all parts of the federation from making it to the venue of the convention.

“In particular, the timing of the President’s visit and the attendant disruption of traffic in Lagos may be seen as a continuation of perceived attempts by the Peoples Democratic Party -led Federal Government to frustrate the merger of our party with other progressive parties, which is a key item on the agenda of our national convention on Thursday.

“We are, therefore, appealing to your Excellency (Fashola) to use your good offices to advise the President to either reschedule his visit or use a mode of intra-city transportation, like a helicopter, that will not engender closure of roads on a very busy day in the city.”

The party said that the President would not want to subject Nigerians to “avoidable suffering just because of a visit that can either be rescheduled or carried out in an unobstructive manner on a gridlock-prone city.”

But the Presidency faulted the ACN claim, saying that Jonathan’s visit which was scheduled long ago would have no effect on the ACN convention.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said a courteous check from the appropriate Presidency officials would have revealed to the ACN that the President was not visiting Lagos.

Abati explained in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, that his boss would only touch down at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, transit to Ibafo by a chopper and return to the airport the same way for his flight back to Abuja.

He said, “We find it hard to believe that any patriotic and right-thinking Nigerian would have written the kind of publicly circulated letter reportedly sent to the governor of Lagos State by Alhaji Mohammed in which he attempts to dictate President Jonathan’s itinerary, mode of transportation within Lagos, and motive, and even suggests that the President’s visit could have been designed to frustrate a planned ACN convention and merger with some other political parties.

“The allegation is not only baseless, but another in the series of ‘wolf crying’ that has become the sole strategy and pre-occupation of the ACN. It is clearly a deliberate, further attempt to undermine, ridicule and debase the office of the President.

“It is certain that Governor Fashola was already aware of President Jonathan’s itinerary in Lagos tomorrow(today) since in keeping with protocol, the Presidency always briefs state governments well ahead of time on all Presidential movements to their states. Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s letter was therefore pointless and serves no purpose other than distasteful muck-raking.

“Furthermore, the Presidency completely rejects the insinuation in the deliberately leaked letter that the President’s visits to Lagos are always disruptive. The paranoia displayed by the ACN in its plea to Governor Fashola concerning an imaginary plan to scuttle a political merger is beneath the politics of inclusiveness this administration has encouraged in its interaction with the state, as with all other states.

“We have no doubts whatsoever therefore that Governor Fashola will prove to be much wiser and more mature than the ACN spokesman, and consign his letter to the dustbin.”

Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, carpeted Muhammed, saying he did not have the least understanding of the workings of government.

“ I find it difficult to explain how Alhaji Mohammed expects Gov. Fashola to control or obstruct the movement of the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The insult contained in his letter to Gov. Fashola is a product of a confused politician.

“We know for a fact that Gov. Fashola is of a different and higher breed with proper upbringing. Nigerians must now know Alhaji Mohammed for what he truly is—a scare-monger .”
-Punch

Rather than give its blessing to Jonathan’s re-election, the north is now fine-tuning strategies to project one of its leading lights for the presidency in 2015 with Speaker Aminu Tambuwal increasingly winning the favour of some northern governors.

Vanguard learnt from reliable sources that influential Northern political leaders were deeply concerned about the deteriorating quality of life in Nigeria, particularly in the North occasioned by endless poverty and intractable security challenges that have continued to claim lives and property.
In addition, political gladiators in the region were peeved by the attempt by President Jonathan to dump the gentleman’s agreement he reportedly entered into with Northern governors in 2010 to serve for only one term of four years.

A Northern governor, who told Vanguard that he was part of the team that brokered the deal with the president, described as shocking the seeming rebuttal of an agreement he said would have seen the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, zone its presidential ticket to the North in 2015.

The governor, who pleaded anonymity, pointed out that the denial of the deal was a calculated attempt to ridicule the North.

Jonthan must honour agreement with the North

He said: “Look, an agreement is an agreement whether written or verbal. In this case, Mr. President cannot say that he did not plead with us to back him for only a term after which he would return power to the North.

”Our position is that he should be gentleman enough to honour that agreement and concede power to the North on moral grounds.

“But let me tell you that the North is not happy with the attempt by the President to jettison what he agreed with us even when he went to Addis Ababa.

”It was based on the firm belief by us that he would run for a term that we mobilised our traditional, political and religious leaders at all levels in the North to support the election of Jonathan in 2011.

“However, if the President wants to take us for a ride, let him wait and see what we can do in 2015. We have decided to take our destiny in our hands by forging ahead as a group in the next election,” the source hinted.

North considers Tambuwal

It was learnt that although the Northern political leaders were united on the need to dump Jonathan and back one of their own in 2015, the major problem confronting them at the moment, was how to decide on a presidential candidate.

It was also gathered that while no fewer than five Northern governors were jostling for the presidential post, political leaders in the region were seriously mulling the idea of drafting the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, into the race.

The decision to look in the direction of Tambuwal was borne out of the fear that the presidency could use the anti-graft agencies to scare the Northern governors, with eyes on the top post.

Those who favour drafting Tambuwal into the presidential race, argue that he possesses all the qualities of a good leader, who can take Nigeria to the next level, if given the opportunity.

Another northern governor, who is in support of Tambuwal said: “Not only is he very pragmatic and conversant with the Nigerian situation, he also possesses what the nation requires to move forward.

“In fact, I can tell you that the North is thinking seriously about the idea and we believe that at the right time it will be done,” the governor said.

Via Anguard

Despite President Goodluck Jonathan’s disposition to amnesty for Boko Haram, not all members of his cabinet believe in the option, it was learnt yesterday.
Also, it was learnt that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and the National Security Adviser, Mr. Aliyu Sambo, on Saturday fine-tuned the list of members of the Technical Committee who will work out the modalities for the amnesty.
The work of the Technical Committee will pave the way for the inauguration of the Main Committee in two weeks time.
Besides, the NSA is said to have met with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo for his suggestion on the security challenges facing the nation.
Following a session of the National Security Council, the President decided to raise a panel to weigh options on amnesty for Boko Haram members.
But investigation by our correspondent revealed that not all members of the cabinet supported the amnesty solution.
It was learnt that some military chiefs, cabinet members and top aides prefer a military solution to the security threats posed by Boko Haram as the case in Turkey and Algeria.
Apart from the gains recorded by the Joint Task Force in repelling Boko Haram, those opposed to amnesty indicated that security agencies had reached a stage of unmasking those behind the challenges the country is facing.
They claimed that some of the detained Boko Haram members were already set to disclose their sponsors.
According to sources, those opposed to amnesty are of the opinion that the political forces behind Boko Haram are just using the agitation for amnesty to secure a soft landing.
A highly-placed source, who pleaded not to be named, said: “Some cabinet ministers do not see any reason why the government should grant amnesty to Boko Haram, in view of the casualty figures from the attacks by the sect.
“They are also of the opinion that the amnesty bait might prove fatal for the government if Boko Haram continues with its attacks.
“They prefer military option instead of the political solution which some people in the North are canvassing.”
Responding to a question, the source said some of the affected cabinet members and top aides have fears that those sponsoring Boko Haram are hiding under amnesty to get a soft landing.”
The source added: “Well, the cabinet members are suspecting that Boko Haram sponsors are looking for soft-landing.
“In spite of the reservations of some cabinet ministers and presidential aides, Jonathan has raised a committee to weigh all options.
“The President decided to opt for amnesty to prove that he is a listening leader and he wants to carry all the geopolitical zones along in his administration.”
As at press time, it was gathered that the NSA and the AGF met on Saturday to fine-tune the list of members of the Technical Committee, which will work out modalities for amnesty for Boko Haram.
Although the list of the members of the Technical Committee was kept under wraps, it was gathered that it comprises both military officers and strategic cabinet members.
Another source in government said: “When the Technical Committee completes its assignment in two weeks, the Presidency will then constitute the main panel, which would handle the amnesty programme for Boko Haram.”
The NSA met with Obasanjo on the security challenges facing the country.
According to a source, Mr. Sambo Dasuki had talks with Obasanjo on the way forward for the nation.
“I think Dasuki, acting on the instructions of the President, went to discuss with Obasanjo on government’s plans. It is likely that the NSA put Obasanjo in the picture of the amnesty plan before Jonathan conceded to it.”

Via Nation