Mutiny: Okoh Urges Jonathan, Military to Forgive Convicted Soldiers

THE Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the military authorities to spare the lives of the Nigerian soldiers sentenced to death over allegations of mutiny.

He noted that even though military laws are very strict, there was the need to temper justice with mercy considering the huge number of lives lost in the country in the fight against insurgency.

Answering questions from journalists at the 2014 Communicators Conference in Abuja, the Primate said:

     "The soldiers have invested
      their lives in the defence of the
      nation, they shouldn’t only see
      their error; they should equally
      see the good they have done. It
      is left for Jonathan to
      reconsider. Human beings can
      make mistakes; it is a good
      thing to forgive. The war
      against Boko Haram has
      consumed so many people and
      we shouldn’t add more."

     "Military law is a very strict law
      but we appeal that they temper
      justice with mercy and spare
     their lives."

He stressed the need for Nigerians to shun violence, insurgency, religious bigotry and tribalism, adding that we should build a country that gives hope to the future generation.

According to him, Nigeria was supposed to be very mature at 54.

     "We are not where we ought to
      be because we have not been
      fair to ourselves; we have
      brought a lot of obstacles to
      our march to progress like the
      issue of Boko Haram,
      kidnapping, tribalism and
      sectionalism and other vices
      that have brought setback to
      our growth and development."

     "We need to allow the overall
      common good of the people
      otherwise we can’t make it. This
      administration should be our
      transition into the fuller life;
      there should be no
      retrogression.”

Guardian