In this similitude, I strongly urge and appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, the father of the nation that as a matter of utmost national importance, he should extend forgiveness to agitators, repentant terrorists and bandits who are up in arms against the State.
As the _principalem repraesentativum_ and _numerus unus civis_ of the Nigerian State, it is well within his right to show clemency.
I therefore implore him to give heed to the timeless message of that Shakesperean character, Portia, who eloquently waxed thus in the Act 4, Scene 1 of the classical work, The Merchant of Venice:
“_The quality of mercy is not strain’d_,
_It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven_
_Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest_;
_It blesseth him that gives and him that takes_:
‘_Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes_
_The throned monarch better than his crown_;
_His sceptre shows the force of temporal power_,
_The attribute to awe and majesty_,
_Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings_;
_But mercy is above this sceptred sway_;
_It is enthroned in the hearts of kings_,
_It is an attribute to God himself_;
_And earthly power doth then show likest God’s_
_When mercy seasons justice”_.
This intervention should not in any way be construed as suggesting an end to military operations in the affected states across Nigeria and especially in the Northern region.
The psychological dimension of the warfare presumes that the Nigerian military can ramp up their operations by paying close attention to the current disposition of some of the already fatigued terrorists and their leaders.
This of course is in line with the de-radicalization efforts of the military and beyond these efforts, it is suggested that the President can change the narrative of the war by offering a one-time peace-pact to some identified leaders and financial sponsors of terrorism as well as leaders of secession movements in Nigeria such as IPOB and Ilana Omo Oodua.
kayodeAjulo@castleoflaw.com
