Niger Delta
Ex-Militants Protest Amnesty Programme Project
Ex-militant leaders have called for change in the leadership of the federal government amnesty Programmes alleging financial improprieties, and short changing of its members in the process of implementation.
The ex-militant leaders, under the embrella body of Amalgamation of Ex-Freedom Fighters in Bayelsa State (AEFF), in a meeting held recently in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, to review the operation of the programmes so far, wondered why some of its members are still being owed despite all the money the Federal Government have made available for that purpose.
The ex-militant in a four point communiqué issued at the end of the crucial meeting noted with dismay the disposition of the people in charge to the amnesty programme, most especially, issues bothering on the welfare of repentant militants.
Declaring their supports for President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the ex-warlords called on him to expedite action on the implementation of amnesty programme saying that its relevance to the socio-economic development of the country cannot be over emphasised.
As a way out, the ex-militants asked the Federal Government to handover the whole process to its Special Adviser on the Niger Delta matter, Mr Ndutimi Alaibe.
According to them, since present leadership is not leaving up to the expectation, the only way out is to allow the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta matters to handle the affairs of the ex-militants in the region.
‘We want the Federal Government to expedite action by engaging some of our boys who are now roaming the streets without any meaningful endeavour’, they stated.