League of Imans in the North-Central Zone and the Anglican Bishop of Akure Diocese, Bishop Simeon Borokini have disagreed over the proposal for an amnesty for the Boko Haram sect.
While the League of Imams want an amnesty for the sect to reduce the surge of violence in the Northern region, the Bishop who was recently ordained said members of the insurgent must unmask themselves before being granted amnesty.
The League in a communique signed by the forum’s Protem Chairman, Sheikh Umar Faruk urged the Federal Government to listen to suggestions on the matter by drawing up amnesty for the sect members.
The lmams, however, condemned the killing of innocent people across the northern region by members of the sect.
It described the sect’s act as anti-Islam, barbaric and counterproductive.
“The forum condemns all forms of violence and killing of innocent souls across the country on daily basis by any group.”
“No religion preaches manslaughter, bloodshed and killing of fellow human beings on earth without recourse to court process.”
The league also called on the authorities to end the arbitrary arrest, intimidation and extra-judicial killings of innocent religious leaders in its fight against the insurgents.
It also wants the government to strengthen shari’ah legal system and its institution, to ensure strict compliance to its provisions aimed at curbing immorality in the society.
The forum condemned indecent dressing by some girls, unrestricted mixing of boys and girls in public and private schools and called for better orientation for students and education administrators.
“The forum observed with great concern the high registration fees of private Islamic schools by the newly-constituted board responsible for the registration of private schools in Niger, “ the league said. (NAN)
However, the Anglican Bishop of Akure Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rev. Simeon Borokini, has advised Boko Haram members to first “unmask’’ before asking for amnesty.
Borokini told newsmen in Akure on Tuesday that it would be difficult for the Federal Government to give amnesty to a faceless group.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Borokini was installed as the new bishop of the diocese last week in Akure.
He lamented that many lives had been lost due to the activities of the group and urged government to take a decisive action to check its activities.
The bishop also restated his call for a change in the priorities set by the leaders, noting that this had affected the peace of the country.
“ The peace of the country has been affected by the priorities set by the leaders and the people.
“ The country’s priorities have been wrongly set because God has been neglected for crude oil, materialism and worldliness which has resulted in insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.
Borokini also said that the church would revamp its prison ministry and hospital outreaches to further give hope to the people.
He said a chaplain would be appointed to take charge of the frontier ministry to preach the message of hope to prisoners, as they needed to be encouraged
The clergyman pledged that he would strive to create an enabling spiritual environment that would lead to the unity of members of the diocese.
“ We have an enormous task ahead of us; we must build our broken walls.
“We must come together as one. United we stand as a family and divided we fall. Akure Anglican diocese is one,” he said. (NAN)