AMNESTY FG ‘ll Gazette Militants’ Identities

As part of measures to allay fears of militants over the amnesty terms, the Federal Government has assured stakeholders that it would gazette the exercise including the names of those pardoned.

Chairman of the Presidential Technical Committee on Amnesty Rehabilitation, Air Vice Marshall Ararile gave the assurance in a meeting with stakeholders and militants groups in Port Harcourt.

Ararile’s assurance had come after opinion leaders who attended the forum expressed their reservations, saying that the gesture lacked legal force and should be documented.

But AVM Ararile responded that the exercise is backed by law since the constitution empowers the president to grant pardon.

He sated that the president consulted extensively with the National Assembly and other stakeholders to ensure that the exercise achieves its major objective.

Since the conditions are well publicized, the Air Force chief ruled out the possibility of the exercise being scuttled by politicians and government itself.

AVM Ararile noted that to ensure that the amnesty process goes on smoothly, the exercise has been divided into three phases of demobilization, arms withdrawals and re-integration.

However, he observed that the re-integration process is a long –term process, that would ensure that the militants are fully absorbed into society again.

Adding that, “ your role as stakeholders is to prevail on the militants to embrace the federal government gesture and find a final solution to the Niger Delta problem”.

Meanwhile, stakeholders who attended the one–day forum has carpeted the federal government for not being sincere in addressing the major cause of the Niger Delta crisis.

Chairman of the defunct Niger Delta Technical Committee, Mr Ledum Mitee said the government has failed to address the issue of injustice, “ I am worried that something we have failed to address the major thing. I think that what you should do is to address those things that concern the people”.

Mitee faulted the over N50billion allotted for the exercise declaring that it would lead to distrust, because the best international best practices implementing amnesty was not followed.

In his submission, Bishop Friday Nwator, a religious leader who have been engaged in the rehabilitation of militants in Rivers State said the budget is a major distraction from the real issues.

The bishop urged the committee not to overlook the spiritual dimension of the crisis, saying the Federal Government needs to consult widely and ensure that the militants are trained in entrepreneurial skill to fit into the society.

Chairperson of Ijaw Mothers Union, Mrs Doris MacDaniels emphasized the need for the demobilized militants to be trained in marine technology to improve local content in that sector.

She also advised the committee to introduce employment benefits, while drawing attention to the need for a well organised arms return exercise that would afford the militants to send their representatives.

Chairman, Federal Government Amnesty Committee, Air Marshall L.O Ararile (left) discussing with Dr Timi Agari, states co-ordinator of the committee, during the committee’s stakeholders meeting for Rivers State at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, yesterday