Amnesty: Uduaghan asks Clark to prevail on militants

Sylvester Idowu, Warri- 03.07.2009

APPARENTLY worried by the incessant blowing up of oil facilities by militants after the amnesty offer by the Federal Government, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, on Thursday, asked the Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, to prevail on armed youths in the region to lay down their arms and embrace the gesture.

Governor Uduaghan, who was at the Ijaw leader’s country home, Kiagbodo, said he decided to visit him so that he could prevail on the militants to embrace peace and the presidential amnesty.

He noted that President Umaru Yar’Adua meant well by granting the favour without prejudice, adding that “we have gone beyond the level of engagement process. We are dealing with issues of marginalisation, as well as maintenance of peace, increased business activities and security.”

Governor Uduaghan assured the Ijaw leader that those displaced, as a result of the confrontation between the military and militants, would soon return to their homes, adding that the Joint Task Force (JTF) had given him an assurance to that effect.