Committee’s Report Are Never Implemented – Sheikh Lemu

The President, Supreme Council of Sharia, Sheikh Ahmad Lemu, has explained that the failure of the Federal Government to implement the report of the committee on post-election violence, made him turn down the new appointment on the committee for the planned Boko Haram amnesty.

Speaking to Channels Television in Minna, Niger State capital; the respected Islamic scholar regarded his membership of the committee as a “call for national service” but however noted that he is “disappointed by the non- implementation of the post-election crisis committee recommendations   which he chaired.”

Sheikh Ahmad Lemu is one of the 26 member presidential committee on amnesty for Boko Haram, announced by the presidency on Wednesday but he has since pulled out of the committee.

He explained that dialogue remains the only way out of the security crisis in some parts of the north as the use of force cannot solve the problem.

He however mentioned that until there is mutual trust between the sect and the federal government, the sect members cannot surrender for fear of being arrested by the Federal Government.

Sheikh Lemu who is optimistic about the success of the committee criticizes the stands of the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the granting of amnesty to the dreaded sect.

Public frustration and disappointment

The post-election-violence report had warned that Nigeria risks revolution if the government does not address mounting frustration.

“General insecurity of life and property in people’s houses and on the highways and kidnapping are adding fuel to the fire of public frustration and disappointment,” Sheikh Ahmed Lemu said when presenting its report in October 2011.

He further warned that “the true state of affairs could escalate to social revolution if preventive measures are not taken in time.”

The committee on post-election-violence was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to investigate the violence that broke out after the 2011 general election which led to the death of more than 800 people.