Boko Haram: Sultan Expresses Optimism In Amnesty

SAN FRANCISCO, April 15, (THEWILL) – The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, has expressed optimism that the amnesty deal being proposed for members of the Boko Haram by the Federal Government will still work out despite the initial challenges.

The Sultan who, stated this on Monday, saying he looks forward to the success of the programme, however dismissed the rejection of the amnesty, he, along with some prominent northern elders had repeatedly canvassed for.

It will be recalled that the leadership of Boko Haram had rejected the amnesty proposal barely few days after President Goodluck Jonathan set up security committee to consider the modalities, processes, conditions and feasibility of the amnesty deal.

Expressing confidence that the amnesty deal will work, Sultan Abubakar, who is being tipped to head the amnesty committee said "There is nothing that is impossible in this world."

It would be recalled that the Sultan, as the spiritual leader of the Islamic faith, had asked President Goodluck Jonathan to grant “total amnesty” to the Boko Haram as a means of achieving peace.

Along with a former security chief in the regime of Gen. Abdul-Salami. Abubakar, the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Ibrahim Ola Sa'ad, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, the representatives of the Directors-General of the State Security Service (SSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and that of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), the Sultan is working behind the scenes to make the clemency deal work.

The committee is expected to submit its report to the president Tuesday next week.