Henry Okah, Tompolo, others get amnesty

Okey Muogbo, Abuja - 26.06.2009

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua, on Thursday, proclaimed the much-awaited amnesty for Niger Delta militants. According to the president, the amnesty would be open for 60 days within which the militants are expected to surrender and give up violence.

He said after the expiration of the amnesty, any person who engaged in militancy would be treated as a criminal. The amnesty covers even militants, who are currently under arrest or undergoing trial, including Henry Okah, and Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo.

Yar’Adua proclaimed the amnesty after it was approved by the National Council of State (NCS), on Thursday. A statement read by the president while proclaiming the amnesty said, “the offer of amnesty is predicated on the willingness and readiness of the militants to give up all illegal arms in their possession, completely renounce militancy in all its ramifications unconditionally, and depose to an undertaking to this effect.

“It is my fervent hope that all militants in the Niger Delta will take advantage of this amnesty and come out to join in the quest for the transformation of our dear nation. The offer of amnesty is open to all militants for a period of 60 days,” the president said.

He went on to say that “our twin-challenge of democratic consolidation and economic regeneration calls for unbridled patriotism and single-minded, people-focused, results-oriented, resolute and courageous leadership at all levels. We cannot afford to fail.

“Let us use today’s proclamation of amnesty to herald a new beginning for our fatherland. “As I append my signature to the Proclamation, I pray that Almighty God continues to bless our dear country, Nigeria.

“Today, the 25th day of June 2009, the Federal Government takes another decisive step in our avowed commitment to bringing enduring peace, security, stability, and development to our nation’s Niger Delta.

“From inception, our administration has demonstrated unwavering commitment to evolving a holistic solution to the problems of the Niger Delta: securing the region for growth and development, while also effectively tackling the criminal dimension to the problem.

“We do recognise that the provision of the necessary infrastructure for the sorely needed socio-economic development of the area is dependent on an enduring atmosphere of peace and security.

“Constructive and frank engagements with all the stakeholders have defined our approach in the past two years,” he added. Tracing the efforts that culminated in the proclamation, he said “in line with the requisite priority which our Seven-Point Agenda accords to the issue, and in furtherance of our determination to decisively deal with all the ramifications of the crisis, a Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament of Militants in the Niger Delta was set up on the 5th of May, 2009.

“With the Federal Government’s acceptance of the recommendations of the Presidential Panel setting out the terms, procedures, and processes of the grant of an amnesty to Niger Delta militants, the National Council of State was, today, duly consulted,” which approved the amnesty.

Meanwhile, Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Udughan has said that the amnesty will open a new chapter in the region. The governor, in a statement on Thursday, said he endorsed the amnesty announced by the government for the youth, who were forced by certain grave circumstances to engage in violent acts.

According to him, the amnesty represented the best chance to end crisis in the region. “Now is the time to return to dialogue and peaceful negotiations. The president has shown he is prepared to engage actively in bringing peace, we should trust his judgment and leadership,” the governor said.

He appealed to leaders at all levels to support this gesture so that “we can all bring normalcy to our communities.” However, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has faulted the amnesty and called on the United Nations (UN) to convoke an intervention panel on the Niger Delta crisis.

The group noted only that could save the country from further drift and the UN was the only group that could restore sanity to the region. In a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Osita Okechukwu, the CNPP said it had thought that the Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament of Militants would have fashioned out a plan and innovative strategy to stop the insurgency, armed conflict, shutting down of oil facilities and vandalisation of oil pipelines in the region.

Additional reports by Adebayo Waheed and Christian Okeke.