A group of ex-militants from the Niger Delta on Sunday threatened to disrupt the peace in the region if the Federal Government fails to integrate its members into the post amnesty programme.
The group under the aegis of Niger Delta Development, also accused some unnamed aides of President Goodluck Jonathan of undermining the objective of the amnesty initiative for their selfish interests.
The body in a letter signed by its National President, Mr. Julius Joseph, and its Secretary, Mr. Tam Odogwu, gave the government one-week to include its members in the ongoing amnesty and pay them all their entitlements.www.naijapaymentsonline.com
In the letter addressed to Jonathan, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in Yenagoa, the group lamented that some officials of the amnesty programme were playing “hide-and-seek” with the ex-militants.
The group regretted that many of the ex-militants, who surrendered their arms and ammunition during the demobilisation phase of the programme, had not been recognised and given equal treatment like their colleagues.
It noted that repeated failures of the amnesty officials to address the issues of neglect compelled the group to write the letter, appealing to Jonathan not to miscontinue the patience of “abandoned ex-militants” as a weakness.
While observing that Jonathan was committed to the success of the post-amnesty programme, the group expressed disappointment at the conducts of those in charge of the initiative.
The ex-militants asked Jonathan to direct the Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, to immediately include the ex-militants into the scheme.
They said, “We had employed all peaceful and procedural channels since January 2011 to no avail. More so we can read between the lines that attempts are being made by highly placed individuals to scuttle our sacrifices and compromise the laying down of our arms for the collective good because of their selfish interest.
“Meanwhile, we want you to understand that we all collectively contributed to the peace and the sustenance of the relative peace in the region by accepting peace and by laying down our arms to the various security agencies as directed. We have channelled several letters through the office of the Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and have got no response.
“Consequently we plead and urge President Goodluck Jonathan as a man who will not renege on his promise to direct Kingsley Kuku, the Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs to facilitate our incorporation into the amnesty programme and subsequent payment of our entitlements from January till date.”
culled from The Punch.
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