Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Compliance, Mr. Maruf Akinderu-Fatai, on Sunday said it was necessary to seek the views of relatives of victims of Boko Haram attacks before the Federal Government grants amnesty to members of the sect.
Akinderu-Fatia, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said it would be wrong for the Federal Government to consider amnesty for members of the sect without seeking the views of those who had been seriously hurt by their attacks.
He said there could be a reduction of insecurity in the country if Nigerians, through a national conference, agreed to live as one nation.
Akinderu-Fatai said, "There is no right thinking Nigerian that will not be worried at the present condition we find ourselves in terms of insecurity. I believe the problem is fundamental and granting amnesty will not solve the problem.
"Although I have nothing against it, but how do you grant amnesty to someone, who has committed crime against humanity. Are you going to start granting amnesty to those who have destroyed lives and properties through massive bombings?
"Before you do that, you should sit down to agree with those, who have lost relatives as a result of the terrorist attacks to find out if they agreed to let bygones be bygones or we will just start with the issue of granting them amnesty like that?
"I do not believe in that. In my mind, I think we do not really believe in ourselves as a nation because we have yet to agree on whether we want to stay together as one."
Meanwhile, a human rights crusader, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, on Sunday warned President Goodluck Jonathan against granting amnesty to members of the sect.
Abayomi, in a statement entitled, 'No to amnesty! I say No! If we must die, let us not die like dogs', warned Jonathan not to negotiate with members of the sect that he described as "extremists".
He said, "They (Northern leaders) should tell us what will be the purpose of negotiation with illiterates, who find power in guns, who insist we should return by force to the Stone Age. Will amnesty change their awful believe that "to kill is a righteous service to Allah.
"Shout it on the mountain top. No to amnesty for Boko Haram; no to amnesty, for what is amnesty in Nigeria at any rate other than another corrupt appeasement of illegality and evil."
