The Minister of Defence, retired Maj-Gen Godwin Abbe, has said that the Federal Government will not extend the amnesty date for militants in the Niger Delta after the Oct. 4 deadline.
Abe made the remark at Okehi, in Etche local Government of Rivers State yesterday at the passing-out ceremony of 300 repentant militants. The militants were trained at the social rehabilitation centre set up by the Rivers Government in July 2008 for such militants.
``The deadline for amnesty is Sunday 4th Oct. 2009, and by the grace of God, government does not intend to extend it. I therefore appeal to all those that are still in doubt and who have not laid down their arms to do so and join all peace-loving Nigerians in our quest for accelerated development of the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria'' he said.
The minister said that the Federal Government was committed to the development of the region by making the Niger Delta issue a part of the Seven- Point Agenda of its development plan. He said no development could take place in the face of persistent lawlessness. ``On the part of the Federal Government and in collaboration with the state governments, we are focusing on the rehabilitation centres in Rivers State, this one particularly, in Bayelsa and in Delta State for the rehabilitation of ex-militants,'' he said.
Abbe said after counselling and categorising, the various needs would be captured to determine the kind of training to be given to each militant and the institution to carry out the training. ``The occasion today is a very good example of commitment to peace by His Execellency, Chief Rotimi Amaechi. We commend also, Chief Albert Horsefall and other members of the social rehabilitation committee for this ingenuity and for the sacrifice of this noble national rennaissance'' he said.
In his speech, Governor Chibuike Amaechi announced the employment of 20 of the former militants into the state workforce, adding that government would assist the others financially as they step out to get settled in the society. Amaechi urged the former militants to imbibe lessons learnt from their training and use it for the good of the society. The Chairman of the Social Rehabilitation Committee, Chief Albert Horsefall, said the former militants did very well in the various trainings they received.
He said two of the former militants would soon travel abroad for trials with Arsenal and Chelsa football clubs and that arrangements were being worked out for former Wimbledon striker, John Fashanu to take them abroad. ``The former militants are fit, skilled to be hired for employment and are already mentally changed persons.'' he said. The best behaved former militant, Mr. Soibi Simon, commended the state government for arranging the training and rehabilitation for them.
He said that they would imbibe everything they had learnt during their six- month stay at the rehabilitation centre for the development of the state. The former militants were trained in Agriculture, Music, Electrical, Sports, Welding and Fabrication, Fitting, Sea-faring and Marine, Business and Commerce, Computer, Fashion Designing and Driving. Another group of 300 repentant militants are expected to go for rehabilitation at the centre next month,
Meanwhile the Niger Delta Restoration Initiative [NDRI], a Pan Niger Delta peace coalition, says the request by the main militant leader in Delta state, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, a.k.a Tompolo, for an extension of the October 4, 2009 deadline fixed by the Federal Government for militants in the troubled Niger Delta region to embrace the amnesty offer and lay down their arms is not aimed at armtwisting the presidency, but intended to ensure a smooth and enduring peace process.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its President-General, Mr. Pupagha Ekpedekumor. The group appealed to President Umaru Yar'Adua to critically examine the reasons advanced by Tompolo and other concerned stakeholders on the need to extend the deadline for militants to accept the amnesty offer, a move, it said, would further boost government's sincerity and commitment towards enthroning a lasting peace in the volatile oil rich region.
Also, the NDRI declared its support for an extension of the disarmament time-frame, expressed conviction that the request, if acceded to by the Federal Government, would create the desired atmosphere for adequate calming of frayed nerves as well as proper reintegration, re-orientation and holistic commitment to the peace process by most of the militants who are still scattered all over the creeks.
Noting that the recent Joint Military Task Force [JTF] offensive, which preceded the Federal Government's amnesty offer only affected communities in Gbaramatu kingdom of Delta state while communities in Bayelsa, Rivers, and other state in the Niger Delta lived their normal lives, NDRI contended that the circumstances therefore, made it imperative for the presidency to consider Tompolo's reasons for requesting an extension of time.
The group statement read in part: "As a group committed to the restoration of peace and the lost glories to the entire Niger Delta region, we deem it necessary to join in the calls by several patriotic groups and individuals for an extension of the October 4 deadline which the Federal Government had fixed for all willing militants to lay down their arms and embrace amnesty.
"Besides four key reasons, our position is further reinforced by the incident that occurred on wednesday at the Sagbama junction along the Mbiama - Warri road in "Bayelsa state, where some aggrieved repentant militants barricaded the road and vandalized both commercial and private vehicles in protest against the non-payment of allowances promised them by the Amnesty Implementation Committee, an act which indicated the shabby handling of the reintegration process.
"Evidently, this is one of the scenarios Tompolo wants to avoid by calling for an extension of time. First, since his commanders and boys have all been scattered in the creeks with their weapons in the wake of the military bombardment of his camp and communities in Gbaramatu kingdom, he needs some time to assemble them and mop-up the arms. After-all, the most essential element of the amnesty package is the disarmament.
Therefore, of what use will it be to the Federal Government if Tompolo accepts the offer without retrieving arms in the hands of his boys and as well carry them along in the entire peace process? Do not also forget that this man had been in hiding after being declared wanted by the JTF. He presently has no home to lay his head, and is severely disorganized.
"In the circumstances, Tompolo needs time to organize himself and do a thorough job that would enthrone enduring peace. Again, hundreds of thousands of displaced residents of communities razed by the military in Gbaramatu kingdom are still in the process of returning to their land where they have to build their homes afresh and start a new live. At the moment, they are yet to get over the trauma, and are therefore, not in the right frame of mind to key into the ongoing peace process.
"If the Federal Government is genuinely committed to ensuring an enduring and holistic peace in the Niger Delta area, especially in Delta state, we urge to exhibit more compassion and patience by allowing some time for the broken hearts of the agonizing returnees of Gbaramatu kingdom to heal a bit, as well as give room for Tompolo to effectively re-assemble and pull out his boys from the creeks for reintegration to a new life of peace.
"An extension of the October 4, 2009 deadline for disarmament is not an indication of weakness or cowardice on the part of the Federal Government, but a show of compassion, good leadership and above all, total commitment to the ongoing peace process in the Niger Delta."
Emma Okereh, Abuja
No comments:
Post a Comment