The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday commended President Goodluck Jonathan for constituting an Amnesty Committee on the Boko Haram insurgency and urged Northern leaders to take advantage of the President’s initiative and pursue peace so as to return the entire north to its lost glory.
According to a release by the party’s spokesman, Oliseh Metu, the setting up of the amnesty committee is yet another demonstration of the President’s sincerity and forthrightness in handling national issues.
He also added that the President has shown that he is indeed a listening leader and that the unity of the country is paramount to him in line with the vision of the founding fathers of our nation.
He said “We believe the initiative of the President in setting up the Amnesty Committee is the best decision at the moment and we are optimistic that this drive will yield the desired results in the general good and restore the unity of our nation.
“In giving the committee the terms of reference to consider the feasibility or otherwise of granting amnesty to the Boko Haram adherents and to collate the clamor arising from different interest groups who want the federal government to administer clemency on members of the religious sect and to recommend the modalities for granting amnesty if necessary, the President has again shown his humility and commitment to carry all Nigerians along in all his actions in line with the tenets of democracy.
“We assure Nigerians that the PDP remains resolute in the commitment to restoring peace in the country, especially in the north and to return the region to its lost glory as the hub of unity, investment and trade in the country and the West African sub-region.
“It is on record that the north is the most receptive region in the country. Indeed there is no part of the country that is more accommodating than the north which has always been home for all people, irrespective of religious creed and tribal affiliations.
“We therefore call on the leaders of the north to take advantage of the President’s initiative and pursue peace so as to return the entire north to its lost glory.” he said.