By IFEANYI OKOLIE

ONITSHA — A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Dr.Chike Okonkwo, has advised the Federal Government not to grant amnesty to the Boko Haram Islamic sect members.

Okonkwo also commended Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, over his achievements in the state.

In a statement in Onitsha, Okonkwo, who is also a community leader at Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area of the state, said granting amnesty to Boko Haram would compound the problems of insecurity in the country.

He said amnesty for Boko Haram would encourage other faceless groups to spring up just to receive Federal Government’s attention.

According to him, the reasons for the amnesty granted the Niger Delta militants are well known to Nigerians and the world, unlike the current move to grant amnesty to Boko Haram which simple reason for killing and maiming innocent Nigerians was to impose their own brand of Islam on the country.

Okonkwo, however, asked Jonathan to utilise whatever fund that would be used in settling Boko Haram to provide welfare facilities for the benefit of Nigerians.

“Rather than take the advice of Northern leaders to compensate Boko Haram insurgents, President Jonathan should advise them to go and talk to their militia to embrace peace, instead of shedding innocent blood for their selfish political ends.

“The President should be bold enough to crush a militia group as Boko Haram to serve as a deterrent to other ethnic militias which may want to take up arms against the nation with the aim of receiving compensation, even when relations of those who lost either their loved ones or property have not been compensated,” he added

On Governor Obi, Okonkwo said his government had impacted the lives of the people of the state through the provision of social amenities.