By Monsur  Olowoopejo

Bishop of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Rev. Peter Adebiyi, yesterday, said anyone demanding that the Federal Government grant amnesty to the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, was an enemy of Nigeria.

Adebiyi, who made the remarks in an interview with Vanguard in Lagos, said the activities of the sect would have been reduced in the Northern part of the country if there was outright ban on activities of commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada riders.

He said: “Okada is not meant to be a commercial means of transport. It is not meant to be used in any civilised country.

“It is only in Nigeria that you find this on the roads. I think those who are asking for amnesty for Boko Haram are enemy of our country.

“If we grant them amnesty, what will the government do for a man whose wife and five children were lost due to their illicit acts?”

“What about thousands of families that have been rendered homeless? And we are giving amnesty to such people?

“Their leaders know members of Boko Haram, that is why they are asking for amnesty for them.

“If you have a child that is causing unrest in the neighbourhood, the parents know what their child is doing and they are in the best position to talk to the child.

“They cannot expect another person to help them out on such issue. Unfortunately, the people we are seeking amnesty for have rejected it.”

On how to end the activities of Boko Haram, the Bishop said Northern leaders had the solution to end the activities of the sect, declaring that “I remember the Ife/Modakeke crisis.

“The leaders in Yorubaland never called on the Federal Government to settle the issue. The leaders did it themselves.

“Why can’t they (Northern leaders) do that in the North. I believe that they are trying to make Jonathan administration irrelevant. And the President is also afraid.”