Boko Haram - Christians'll Reject Amnesty C'ttee's Report - Oritsejafor

The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has said that any report coming from the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North under the leadership of the minister of special duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) would not be acceptable to the Christian community in Nigeria.

Oritsejafor stated this yesterday during the meeting between the committee and CAN leaders held at the Bible Guest House in Abuja.

The CAN president said the Turaki-led committee's decision of inviting them now was an after-thought given the fact that its tenure of 90 days would soon lapse. He also critised the constitution of the committee, saying it is lopsided and unacceptable.

"We further note with Boko Haram having been declared a terrorist organisation and proscribed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the work of your committee has been overtaken by events.

"From the afore-mentioned, it is our belief that any report emanating from your committee will not be credible and acceptable to the Christian community," Oritsejafor said.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Tanimu Turaki had given highlights of the terms of reference of the committee and solicited the support of CAN as a critical stakeholder in the peace process.

Turaki told the Christian leaders that they were not only seeking CAN's understanding, but its support and that of the Christian community in Nigeria.

"We are not only soliciting your advice and suggestions on how to go about the work of this committee, we are most fundamentally, sir, seeking your cooperation and that of the Christian community in Nigeria," Turaki said.

However, the committee, jolted by the stance of the umbrella Christian body, had to excuse journalists in order to confer in private with CAN.

In attendance at the meeting, beside the Amnesty Committee members, were the newly elected CAN vice-president and head of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev Dr Olasupo Ayokunle, Primate of the Anglican Communion, Very Rev Nicholas Okoh, CAN general-secretary, Rev Dr Musa Asake, heads of blocs of CAN, national directors, executive members of Christian Lawyers Fellowship and other national and state officers of the body.
BY IGHO OYOYO AND BODE GBADEBO