Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and former governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje have offered apologies to Boko Haram for any rights violations suffered during military crackdown on its armed uprising in 2009.
They made their apologies in separate statements:
“I apologise to the members of Jama’atu Ahlussunnah lidda’awati wal Jihad for perceived injustices caused them as they have the full rights to be protected by the law,” Yuguda said in a statement released on Saturday.
“I hope this will further the healing of the trauma on Jama’atu Ahlussunnah, …open the door to meaningful dialogue that will end hostilities and usher peace for which the religion of Islam is all about,” he added.
Goje, now a senator, said “as a true Muslim, who believes in peace and brotherhood … I hereby tender my public apology to the organisation for any wrong done to it in the course of performing my duty as the then govearnor of Gombe State.”
The statements from the politicians appeared to be in response to the Boko Haram’s demand for apologies as a precondition for dialogue with government.
The group’s spokesman, Abu Zaid, had said they would hunt down the governors of Borno, Bauchi and Gombe states in comments published a week ago
“We would not relent in our efforts of searching for them until they come out publicly and apologise,” Zaid had said Kashim Shettima, the newly elected governor of Borno State had already made overtures to the group.
He offered an amnesty to those of its members who renounced violence, a move backed by President Goodluck Jonathan.
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