President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday inaugurated the committees on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North and on proliferation of small arms and light weapons at the Council Chambers of the State House.
Jonathan reminded members of the committee on Boko Haram amnesty that Nigerians expect them to perform magic by bringing violence to an end in the northern part of the country.
The committee on dialogue has 90 days to turn in its report.
“All Nigerians are expecting this committee to perform magic and we pray that Allah should give you the wisdom to do so, because without peace we can’t develop no matter how committed we are. Without peace we cannot progress as a nation,” he said.
The President charged the committee to establish a link and open up dialogue with the members of the Boko Haram and to develop the framework through which disarmament will take place.
He said: “They are to work out a sustainable option that will lead to the granting of amnesty. They also have to develop a comprehensive victim support programme, because a number of people are victims of the excesses of the Boko Haram.
“And as we try to address the issue of the Boko Haram, we must also comprehensively address the issues directly affecting the people.
“They must also come up with suggestions on how to address the underlying causes of the crisis, to ensure that as a nation we don’t face similar threats in the future.
“The Federal Government is ready to work with you and any other organization to make sure that these excesses of Boko Haram is brought to an end so that as a nation it is issues of development not issues of conflicts, issues of peace not issues of disaster.”
President Jonathan also used the occasion to caution members of the Joint Task Force to always exercise restraint when carrying out internal security assignment.
According to him, in “attempting to bring peace to any part of the country, you should do so in a manner that will not bring destruction to the third party.
“The issues in some parts of Borno State that is in the media is being investigated. I will tell Nigerians and indeed members of the international community that government will take steps to make sure that if errors are made that such people are cautioned and are treated in line with our own laws and regulations.”
The President, who said government did not contact members of both committees prior to announcing their names, thanked those who accepted to serve to contribute their quota to entrenching peace and tranquility in every nooks and crannies of the country.
He said: “I sincerely appreciate those of you who have accepted to serve.
“In some cases, people raise issues but most of you were not even consulted but of course most of you are aware of the challenges we have as a nation.
“When your names were mentioned, you agreed to play your part to stabilize our country and bring peace and development to the country.
“On behalf of the government, thank all of you for accepting to serve.”
President Jonathan noted that the bulk of the security threat arises from free use of arms and light weapons.
“As a nation, we have passed through thick and thin, we have passed through difficult periods in our history but we all agree that the situation Nigeria is facing today is quite different from other challenging periods we have passed through and really needs dedicated and committed minds to resolve it,” he added.
The committee on small and light weapons, which is a standing committee, he said, was in keeping with his pledge that Nigeria will work with the United Nations and other countries “to stem the worrisome proliferation of light and small arms and their use in creating insecurity challenges and instability in Nigeria and other developing nations.
“The committee on light arms and small weapons is being constituted to ensure that various security challenges relating to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons especially smuggling through our borders is quickly addressed within the framework of cooperation with our neighbours and other countries in ECOWAS and the Sahara region.”
Jonathan, therefore, charged the committee to establish links and cooperation with similar institutions and agencies that “help build capacity, enhance information sharing and develop multi-level international support relationship as well as strengthen regional cooperation.”
President Jonathan decried the proliferation of weapons, saying: “Let me also use this opportunity to re-echo what I have been saying, all over the world, at the UN, at the AU and other platforms that the effect of small arms and light weapons is worse than the effect of nuclear weapons.
“So, we use this opportunity to urge the United Nations again to come up with comprehensive approach to the control of the small arms and light weapons.”
Responding, the Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, who chairs the Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, thanked the President for finding them worthy of serving the country at this critical moment.
Turaki said: “Your choice and careful selection of distinguished and accomplished Nigerians into this Committee, is yet another testimony of your genuine desire to bring to end all the security challenges not only in the northern part of this country but Nigeria as a whole.
“The inauguration of our committee this morning has provided a veritable platform for genuine and sincere resolution of the crisis situation in the north.
“I assure you sir, that members of this committee are prepared to bring everything that we have, our diverse experiences, our education, professionalism, tactics, skills and above all our integrity to bear in the work of this committee.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ambassador Emmanuel Imohe, assured President Jonathan that “these minds that you have assembled for this very important assignment are equal to the task and will be able to do the job.
“I want to thank you for the thoughtful and timely decision to appoint this committee.
“I see it as part of the ongoing efforts of your administration to consolidate on peace and security in Nigeria.
“We are not unmindful of the enormous expectations of Nigerians in this regard and assure you sir, that the committee will neither fail you nor fail the nation in the discharge of this onerous obligation.”
Our earlier story
President Goodluk Jonathan has inaugurated the committees on dialogue with Boko Haram members and proliferation of small and light weapons.
Jonathan told members of the committee on amnesty for Boko Haram that Nigerians expect them to perform magic.
Details soon.