The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and Yoruba nationalist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, should be granted amnesty to end the clamour for self-determination in southern Nigeria, according to Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu-Uche.
He also proposed a N25,000 stipend for repentant Boko Haram and bandits.
Kanu-Uche gave the advice to the Federal Government in an interview with journalists yesterday in Abuja.
He said many prominent people in the country had the listening ears of the agitators, who the government could use to dialogue with the separatist champions.
The cleric also suggested that the Federal Government should pay N25,000 monthly stipend to repentant bandits and Boko Haram members, since hunger and poverty drove many of them to embrace terror and banditry.
He said, “If the government, rather than criticising Gumi, engages him positively, he can bring a solution. You don’t dismiss him and say he is a bad man. If he goes to the bush and they (bandits) have confidence in him, the government can dialogue with them.
“Let me tell you, these boys are being used by politicians. If you engage them and be paying them N25,000 monthly, they will not kidnap. All they want is food.
“I support amnesty for them, the way it was done in the Niger Delta region; it quelled the tension.
“Let government also offer amnesty to Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo, and say ‘come, let us dialogue’.
“I have volunteered to dialogue with Christians from the South-East, let the Federal Government involve me and people like Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. It is not that we are part of the clamour for secession, but we know how to talk to our people. Let them involve some of the notable bishops.”
I thank the Prelate for his suggestions. However, the N25K MONTHLY should be for all REGISTERED UNEMPLOYED NIGERIANS both Boko Haram and non Boko Haram, both Bandits and non Bandits, both IPOB members and non IPOB members, both Yoruba nation agitators and non Yoruba nation agitators AND both Middle Belt nation agitators as well as non Middle Belt nation agitators. I have taken time to write it all to invite the government and those holding any such dialogues to ensure the inclusion of all the various groups. Nigeria has the money….and as long as they are registered with NI Numbers let Nigeria pay them and start Employment Programs to help engage the Youths into meaningful jobs