Nigerians, groups disagree on FG amnesty
Most people thought the unconditional amnesty pronounced by President Musa Umaru Yar'Adua on Thursday to militants in the Niger Delta would be lauded by all.
This is not the situation in Rivers State as opinions differed on the issue. This was revealed by our reporters who went to town to sample people's reactions.
According to political analyst, Dr Dennis Oriji the amnesty given to the militants is a good move initiated by federal government to broker peace in Niger Delta but the sincerity of the parties involved is highly in doubt, adding that conditions attached to the amnesty may be difficult for the militants to meet, hence total surrendering of their arms may not be possible.
Dr. Oriji, questioned the sincerity of the federal government on the amnesty, stressing that the stringent conditions that go with the amnesty raises suspicion and this may thwart the amnesty process. Also, if federal government meant well of granting amnesty to the militants and surrender their arms and ammunitions, how can we ensure that all the arms and ammunitions are going to be surrendered?
In his reaction, Mr. Reggy Nather, said it was only when federal government relax on those conditions and make them attractive to be embraced by the militants before they could be meaningful. He said given amnesty is not the solution to the Niger Delta problem. What federal government failed to realize is that the problem of Niger Delta region goes beyond given amnesty to militants, but to identify those fundamental causes of the crisis and proffer a practical solution to it. In fact, the accumulation of bad leadership with feeble policies is responsible for the problem of Niger Delta.
Reacting to our reporter's question on whether given amnesty to militants will solve the problem in Niger Delta, Mr. Samuel Marshal said if federal government is giving the amnesty with the hope that Niger Delta crisis will end without having a special development programme for the area, will not work.
A state of emergency should be declared on Niger Delta development. Marshal added.
Mr. Clinton Jaja, publisher of Thoughts on Marble, has a different view on amnesty offered the militants. According to him, the federal government should not, in its effort to bring peace to Niger Delta region and see it as a priority in giving amnesty to militants, adding that militants are just insignificant percentage of the population in Niger Delta and having given unconditional amnesty without given same to the people of the region to surrender their abject poverty in replacement of good standard of living will not achieve anything. Federal government should not fail to realize that what culminated into militancy in Niger Delta is the people's agitation for sustainable development of the region. Mr. Clinton asserted.
Hon. Tam Dede, Director of Press, Rivers State House of Assembly said giving amnesty to militants, to him, is just like encouraging militancy in the region, stressing that N50 billion set aside by the federal government to bribe the militants should be used for development of the Niger Delta.
In his opinion, Barr. Amadi Okereke, of Amadi & Amadi & Co. said the amnesty with its attached conditions was baseless and lack merit. It is true, that the federal government has lost economically through the activities of these militants but asking them to surrender all their arms and ammunitions in exchange for welfare package is uncalled for.
In a similar view, the Niger Delta Non-violent Movement has declared the amnesty granted as unacceptable and unworkable.
According to the President, Mr. Onengiya Erekosima, the federal government failed to call all representatives of the militants for a harmonious discussion before the pronouncement.
Mr. Erekosima said “The movement is of the opinion that the way the amnesty operational method is now, every street urchin, common criminals and gun runners can always brandish their guns and say they are militants yet there will be no peace in the creeks”.
However, Comrade Odu Adolphus, chairman of Niger Delta Youth for Practical Development Rivers State sees the amnesty as a welcome development.
Comrade Adolphus expressed the need for the federal government to demonstrate sincerity in its proclamation so as to bring about an enduring peace in the region.
Also, Mr. Lucky Anaele lauded the federal government for the amnesty, pointing out that empowering the militants would enable them to be become useful to the society and earn a living.
Chief Iselema Aaron said: “The federal government should be sincere to fulfill most of the conditions offered the militants of the Niger Delta. The question is all about resource control”.
In his reaction, Mr. George Samuel advised the militants to reciprocate the gesture of the federal government.
Chief Wilson Fubara also advised the militants to accept the amnesty declared by the federal government so as to bring about the needed development to the region that had been devastated by the crisis.
