Checking Abuse Of Amnesty Programme

The BBC Dictionary defines amnesty as a “pardon extended by the government to a person, group or class of persons, usually for a political offence”.
Invariably, it is the act of a sovereign power officially forgiving certain classes of persons who are subject to trial but have not been convicted. It obliterates all legal remembrance of the offence and renders persons involved, free of any further litigation on the offence so committed.
The word ‘amnesty’ in the past, was usually heard in the western world; the United Kingdom, Athens, England, Peru, Austria, America, France and others, while it remained an unpopular word in our own clime until June 25, 2009, when the late President, Musa Yaradua, proclaimed unconditional amnesty on the then Niger Delta militants who terrorized the neighbourhood of Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria at large.
Although, some persons welcomed it as a step in the right direction, especially those who were worse-hit by the heinuous activities of the so-called Niger Delta war lords. Yet, to say that the concept of the amnesty programme by the late president came under stiff opposition was to say the least, an understatement.
In the view of the latter, apart from the fact that its announcement did not follow due process, which rendered it a misnomer that denied it a legal recognition, it also amounted to a waste bin for Nigeria’s lean financial resources. They argued that the huge investment-approach of the amnesty programme was not for the best interest of Nigerians especially against the backdrop that such programme costs several billions of naira and would only benefit a few who have committed crimes against the state.
Recently too, the Rivers State Government came up with an amnesty programme as a step to check the rising wave of terrorism and criminal activities in the state.
Chief Nyesom Wike, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, said the inauguration of a committee to drive this programme was spurred by the urgency of the necessity to restore peace across all communities in the state, for which he charged the committee members to endeavour to interface with different cult groups, to ensure that fire arms are retrieved from them.
Of course, he repeatedly said that the essence does not include payment for arms surrendered thus warning members against promising repentant cultists and militants that the state government would pay for arms surrendered in the course of the programme. However, it is understood that a major term of reference of the committee members is to work out modalities for ensuring the proper integration of cultists and militants who willingly subscribe to the amnesty programme.
Very soon, the 60-days time frame given to the committee to complete its mandate will be over and it is expected that any cultist or militant who fails to subscribe to the amnesty programme of the Rivers State government would face the full weight of the law.
This initiative no doubt has seen many cult members in different parts of the state surrender their weapons, denounced their membership and presumably embraced the amnesty programme of the state government, making one to believe that the disarmament phase of the Rivers State Amnesty programme is succeeding. However, the question on many lips is whether what is declared is actually the totality of what they have as weapons, or is the Biblical Ananias and Sapphira’s tactics being replayed in this instance?
In many villages, there are fillers that a lot of the youths presenting themselves for amnesty, are not in any cult group but claimed to be one just to make money out of it. If this is true, then the earlier the picture is laid bare, the better, so that information is not mixed up somewhere that may give rise to conflict tomorrow.
Nevertheless, with the growing rate of unemployment and poverty among Nigerian youths, it is difficult to establish that those who claim to be militants in the face of amnesty programme are authentic in their claims?
My submission is that the several tens of thousands of people claiming to be militants and criminals irrespective of its demeaning posture is strange. Again, Nigerians by their nature are known for exploiting opportunities at their disposal, especially when money is involved.
Thus, there is need to gather intelligence to fish out who these miscreants are so as to realize the essence of the programme; otherwise, I am afraid this may be another way of encouraging new waves of criminality in Nigeria.
Remember, the Niger Delta militants came and were offered amnesty without them asking for it, the Boko Haram also came, and there were calls in various corners for the gander to be treated like the geeze. Today, we are talking about another amnesty for our youth who have become trigger-crazy even when they have not requested for one.
Who knows whose turn it will be tomorrow.

Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi