Kick-Starting The Post Amnesty Deal

The post-Amnesty deal may have suffered a set-back following the bomb blasts that occured Monday, near  the  Delta State Government House Annex, Warri, venue of the post-amnesty conference oganised by The Vanguard Newspaper.

 The dialogue which was designed to promote the post-amnesty deal and ensure sustainable peace and development in Niger Delta region  was aborted mid-way as the blast created panic and confusion among participants.

 Already, the Movement for  the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) had claimed responsibility, adducing among other reasons, that the federal government’s amnesty process had failed.

Indeed, reactions by stakeholders had been spontaneous as governors, elders, statesmen and others have scolded MEND for its insensibility and irresponsibility.  

In fact, the acting president Dr Goodluck Jonathan in swift  reaction stated that despite the distraction, government was still totally committed to pursuing its post-amnesty programmes.

Dr Jonathan, not only assured investors and stakeholders of government’s resolve towards engendering enduring and sustainable infrastructural and social development of the region but affirmed that government was on top of the situation in the region.

The Tide does not in any way doubt the acting president’s proclamation, espically against the backdrop that he, as a Niger Delta person, had been following the post-amnesty deal with passion and all the commitment the post amnesty deal requires.

Perhaps, we need to recall that Dr Jonathan approved and released N19 billion for off-shore protection and reclamation of communities in the region as part of the amnesty package, among other projects.

Interestingly, it was the first time the federal government had taken such bold step to protect coastal communities in the region from tidal waves emanating from the sea.

Besides, there are other visible physical and human-related development packages which are on-going, the East-West multi million naira road project is progressing steadily while skill acquisition programmes by the Presidential Committee on Amnesty are at advanced stages of implementation.

Hopefully, the execution of these programmes, policies and projects will be religiously pursued to provide permanent solution to the environmental degradation and criminal negligence evident in the region.  

We also expect that all unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks that will impede the progress of the amnesty packages will be avoided to ensure the success of the Amnesty Deal.

 The Tide therefore appeals to various groups in the region to be patient with the government as details of other aspects of the package unfold.

We condemn, in its entirety, the MEND’s intention to subvert a meaningful dialogue between all stakeholders through violent means.

MEND and other militant groups have the ample opportunity to express their reservations over the way and manner the Amnesty Deal is being implemented or packaged.

We have witnessed enough violence and blood-letting in the area and any further crisis will not only cause more harm to the Niger Deltans but abort the peace and development already recorded so far.