It won’t stall amnesty panel’s work –Presidency

The Presidency on Wednesday said the declaration of state of emergency in  three northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa would not stall the work of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, led by Mr. Kabiru Turaki (SAN).
President Goodluck Jonathan had on Tuesday declared emergency rule in the affected states as a way of curtailing the rising security challenges.
There were however fears that the proclamation might hamper the activities of the committee, which included opening communication channel with members of the sect.
But Abati, while featuring on a programme of a private radio station, Raypower 100.5FM, Facts File, said members of the committee would continue their work despite the declaration.
He said the President actually met with the members to keep them abreast of the plans by government on Tuesday before making the national broadcast.
He said, “The state of emergency won’t affect the committee which you call amnesty committee and which we call committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges. The work will continue.
“They will present preliminary and final reports. President Jonathan met with them to review the situation with them and keep them abreast of the step government was going to take.
“The objective of the emergency rule is to ensure peace in that part of the country, and indeed, in all parts of Nigeria.”