Amnesty can’t solve our problem ~ Chf. Nwogu
A former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Chief Samuel O. Nwogu has said amnesty alone cannot solve the problems of the Niger Delta region.
Nwogu said in an interview with the Telegraph in Port Harcourt that to achieve a peaceful solution, the underpinning issues that have frustrated development and effective revenue sharing must be addressed.
Nwogu's comment come as mixed reactions greet the recent amnesty granted to militants by the Federal government.
According to him, “If you don't solve the problem of development in the Niger Delta and you grant the boys amnesty, the problems will still remain”.
The chief who is also a lawyer noted that he appreciated the efforts of government to stem the violence that has devastated the region, but he said it amounts to scratching the surface of the problem.
Chief Nwogu who was also a one-time Chairman of the Board of Directors of Risonpalm said the government needs to define amnesty before it could be effective.
Hear him: “So it has to be defined before amnesty can really be effective. That is why I come to agree with the boys that, define properly, what you mean by amnesty so that when we accept, it would be final.”
On the issue of electoral reforms, Chief Nwogu advocated for a two-party system, stressing that such an arrangement would ensure peaceful election, contrary to what obtains at the moment under the multi-party system.
He made reference to American political system, pointing out that, the country has two major political parties that had guaranteed peaceful competition in its election.
