"AMNESTY" FOR BOKO HARAM: A FAIT ACCOMPLI?

It is clear to me that "Amnesty" for Boko Haram is now imminent.

The clamour for it in recent times by prominent Nigerians across the political, religious, sectional and ethnic divides was well orchestrated to set the stage for it. The roll call of advocates for "amnesty" for Boko Haram is interesting: Sultan of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Nasir El Rufai, Senator Ita Enang, Senator Abdul Ningi, Bola Tinubu, Shehu Sani and Nuhu Ribadu. Many newspaper columnists have indicated that they "do not mind amnesty for Boko Haram if it would end its terrorist attacks". They forget that you cannot dissuade people who think they do God service by killing others from obeying Him! The doctrine of Taqiyya allows the Islamist terrorists to feign acceptance of "amnesty" only to re-group and come out later even much deadlier.

But "amnesty" for Boko Haram is more or less a fait accompli......except God intervenes.

Even the statements from the Presidency show the government is not averse to it if the "ghosts" take on bodies.

It is tragic. "Amnesty" will provide more funding for Islamist terrorism to escalate in West Africa. We have now entered the den of lions. But, like He did for Daniel, God will deliver His People.

Now, I really I fear for Nigeria.  I am wary about the implications of granting "amnesty" to Boko Haram if the Federal Government concedes to those pressuring it to do so.

DISCERNING DECEIVERS

The Bible says in 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world".

Here are practical ways to judge if a "man/woman of God" is genuine or fake:

1. Is he/she born again as defined by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in John 3:3-6?
2. What is the person's testimony regarding his/her salvation?
3. What is the person's spiritual antecedent after salvation?
E.g., Did the person serve under another ministry? Which Bible School or Seminary did he/she attend? Who is the person's mentor?
4. How and when was the person called by God into ministry?
5. Are ALL the person's teachings Bible-based?
6. Does the person teach extra-Biblical "revelations"?
7. If miracles manifest in the person's ministry, are they independently verifiable medically?
8. Are the "miracles" bizarre, repulsive, weird, spooky, odd, fear-inducing and/or leave a strange, uneasy and inexplicable feeling?
9. Is God glorified? Or does credit go to the "man of God"?
10. Does the person practise syncretism (the combination of Christianity with other religions)?

This check-list is not exhaustive. The Ultimate Test is the Witness of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a believer who is truly walking intimately with God in holiness and obedience.

"But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." ..... 1 Corinthians 2:15

Deception is a choice when knowledge is available.

ALAMIEYESEIGHA: WHEN IT IS IMMORAL TO PARDON

It is a disgrace that President Goodluck Jonathan, who has never stopped the rhetoric about "fighting corruption" despite the evidence to the contrary, would erase any doubt about where he actually stands on the war against corruption by getting the Council of State to grant "pardon" to a confirmed kleptocrat and corruption-convict such as D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha. There is no rationale for such an action. It reeks of nepotism and total disregard for the millions of hard-working Nigerians who labour daily to live above the cess-pool of graft which the public sector and the business space have become especially since May, 2011. What amazes me is that the President really does not "give a damn" about how Nigerians and the international community view this decision.

This issue is not about whether it is "clemency" or "pardon"; it is also not about whether pardon has been granted to criminals in other climes based on unpopular or even nepotistic reasons. And, of course, it is not about the legitimacy or constitutionality of the action of the Council of State acting at the behest of President Goodluck Jonathan. This is simply about the IMMORALITY of the pardon when our nation is haemorrhaging because of corruption with impunity.

The Council of State should reverse itself at its next meeting and "unpardon" D. S. P. Alamieyeseigha so as to save our nation from further ridicule and show our children that we really do not celebrate thieves.