How To Make Amnesty Work -Oba

The Chairman,  Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Emenice, Chukwumela Nnam Obi, the Oba of Ogbaland has said that the sustainability of the  federal government amnesty programme on the Niger Delta militants would largely depend on the implementation of its various programmes.

Eze Nnam Obi made the assertion yesterday while speaking as chairman during the flag-off ceremony of the first Niger Delta Tourism, Cultural fair and exhibition held at Protea Hotel, Port Harcourt.

The royal father stated that time has come for the federal government to compel oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region to begin the refining of their crude oil here so that employment opportunities would be created for the teeming unemployed youths in the zone.

He regretted that inspite of the abundant natural resources God has bestowed on the region, it has continued to live in despicable condition, adding that the federal government must act fast to ensure that the oil companies refined their products here especially in this period of amnesty.

“The agitation by the Niger Deltans were as a result of their perceived grievances over neglect of the region by the federal government.

Our leaders must act fast now to compel these oil companies to start refining their products here”.

“They should insist on them to do this so that employment opportunities can be provided for these people. Our lawmakers, civil societies and every body must rise and insist that these companies do their oil refining here”, he added.

The monarch opined that where there is injustice people are bound to cry adding that such situation could lead to amnesty.

He urged the federal government to look inward on how to address the numerous problems bothering on the unity of the country.

The Ogba monarch thanked the organizers of the project for the programme, adding that it would reposition the mindset of the youths in the region and urged the youths to embrace the federal government amnesty programme in order to promote sustainable peace that would usher in accelerated development in the area.

Earlier in his address of welcome , the Project Director of the first Niger Delta Tourism, Cultural Fair and Exhibition, Chief Bimbo Afolayan said that the intention of the programme is to build on the amnesty programme of the federal government and capitalize on the new positive and enabling environment in the Niger Delta area and work with important stakeholders in the region in order to move thing to the next level.

“We all share a vision and mission and that is to make the Niger Delta a most peaceful and prosperous place in the world. Our collective vision is to make the Niger Delta area the preferred destination for tourism in Africa in the next couple of years or so’ he stated.

Also speaking, the project coordinator, Dr Kenneth Kalu said the programme is about showcasing the natural abundant resources in the region to the world for economic development.

He urged  state governments in the region as well as the people of the area to join hands with the organizers of the project to ensure the success and the substances of the programme.