Jonathan in crucial security meeting over amnesty for Boko Haram

As part of the necessary consultations needed to work out the modalities for granting amnesty to members of the Jama’atul Ahlus Sunnah Lidda’awati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, conveyed a crucial National Security Council meeting.
The meeting, which held at the State House, Abuja, it was gathered, was specifically conveyed to discuss the platforms for granting amnesty to Boko Haram.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Saad, recently called on the President to grant amnesty to all militant groups across the country.
Ever since he made the call, governors and elders from the North have been singing similar tune, calling for amnesty.
Members of the Northern Elders Forum, led by Nigeria’s former permanent representative to the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule, at a meeting with the President on Wednesday night, also canvassed for amnesty.
The National Security Council meeting, which was attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo; the Ministers of Police Affairs and Defence, Caleb Olubolade and Olusola Obada; the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki; and the Service Chiefs, including the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, ended without a formal briefing.
Prof. Ango Abdullahi, former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State. who spoke for the northern elders, had hinted on Wednesday that the Thursday meeting would focus on the issue of amnesty.
Abdullahi told newsmen after the meeting with Jonathan at the State House late on Wednesday: “What we discussed is that the general opinion in the country is that amnesty may be factored into whatever the government is trying to do to overcome this violence all over the country.
“Fortunately, the President is already thinking very hard on it and I think he assured us that the there is a special meeting on the matter (amnesty) tomorrow (Thursday) and I am sure something substantial will come out of that meeting.”
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who attended the meeting, also had this to say: “The President said he is indeed engaged in extensive consultations with quite a number of key leaders in relation to this issue of amnesty and that further consultations are going on within the week to take a look at how feasible could it be. We have always offered negotiation.”