The Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr. Lateef Adegbite, has called for caution in the plan to designate dreaded sect, Boko Haram, as a terrorist organisation by the United States of America.
Though only three top members of the group ended up on the terror list eventually, Adegbite said there was a need for the United States of America to act with caution.
Adegbite told newsmen: “How do they know who are Boko Haram and those who are not?
“The implication will be very serious.
“They may see someone like me with my long beard and think I am Boko Haram.
“So the implication will be very serious.
“We are appealing to them to give Nigeria more time to dialogue with our people and we hope we will reintegrate them into our folds.
“So they should hasten slowly.
“We must see all these that are happening as a total challenge and war against all Nigerians – Muslims Christians and none believers.
“It is beyond religion and against the people of this country and the people of this country must ensure that it does degenerate into the situation like that of Afghanistan, Somalia and Mali now.
“We are too sophisticated for that and therefore we must stop the drift and arrest it.
“The government is doing its best because these are faceless people.
“They engage in a kind of mutiny against the people.
“So they are not easy to identify.
“They are doing Gorilla war but the people know them.
“They are neighbours of the people.
“The people must be security conscious and point out these evil doers amongst us to security agencies.
“So having said that too, we must make do some urgent things.
“Number one is serious attacks on poverty.
“There is too much poverty in the land.
“We should move and attack poverty.
“Second is unemployment amongst restive youth.
“It is creating problem.
“So we must employ, provide skill for them.
“We are a rich country and have money to provide for everybody.
“We should give those who are unemployed annual grant and encourage them to work.
“When they have better work, nobody wants to be a beggar.”