By GBENGA OKE
Elder statesman and National Leader of Congress for Equality and Change, CEC, Chief Edwin Clark, has called on the Federal Government to take steps to ensure that the amnesty programme being proposed for Boko Haram members does not become an incentive for unpatriotic elements or groups to perpetrate criminality.
He noted that a wider stakeholder’s consultation aimed at arriving at the modalities for same was a necessary precondition for the grant of the amnesty.
Clark, in a communique at the end of a meeting convened by CEC in Abuja, said the Congress considered the security situation in the country detrimental to national development and therefore, called on the National Assembly to hasten the passage of Anti-Terrorism Bill.
He said: “We took note of various efforts by government and after exhaustive deliberation, we noted that security should be all embracing, covering all parts of the country and its citizens, wherever they may be.
“We reiterate our unflinching support for Mr. President and empathise with the victims of the various acts of violence across the country in recent times.
“There should be special courts to be established for the speedy prosecution of terrorists and their sponsors to serve as deterrent to others. Also, security agents should ensure speedy identification, arrest and prosecution of the sponsors of these acts of terrorism.”
He, however, called on Nigerians to be supportive of the Federal Government in its effort to maintain peace and order.
“We commend Nigerians nationwide for their forebearance and appeal to them to continue to support the Federal Government’s plans to maintain peace and stability of our dear country,” he said.
Comments are moderated. Please keep them clean and brief.