Peter Okhiria
2 June 2009
Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Power Aginighan, has urged the warring militants in the Niger Delta to embrace the new offer of amnesty by President Umaru Yar'Adua in his Democracy Day speech.
Speaking while donating relief materials to the victims of the recent crisis in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, in company of other officials of the Commission weekend, Aginighan asked the youths to surrender their arms and take advantage of the various development initiatives of President Yar'Adua for the region to reintegrate themselves into the society, adding that the commitment of President Yar'Adua showed that he meant well for the region.
Aginighan said Yar'Adua approved the relief materials because he was not comfortable with the pains of the victims and consoled the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Emmanuel Uduaghan, the authorities of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta and other persons who lost their loved ones in the crisis.
He urged the militants to make maximum use of the fresh offer of presidential amnesty by surrendering their arms and opt for legitimate means to ventilate their grievances.
He said: "We have found it fit and proper to use this occasion to sympathise with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan over the recent crisis in Warri South West LGA which led to the loss of lives of patriotic Nigerian soldiers and other Nigerian citizens resident in the area. I also console the families of all those who lost their beloved ones in the unfortunate incident.
"While we do this (present relief materials), we appeal to all who have taken up arms to press for better living conditions for the people of the Niger Delta to embrace Mr. President's unprecedented offer of amnesty to lay down their arms and take advantage of the various development initiatives of the federal and state governments in the region."
Items presented by the NDCC chief include 150 bags of rice, 50 bags of beans, 100 bags of gari, 100 cartons of groundnut oil and 50 bags of salt to the victims through the Chairman of Gbaramatu Relief Committee set up by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, who thanked the NDDC for the gesture.
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Judging by similar happenings in oher parts of the world, president Yar'adua's stance on miltants to voluntarily lay down their arms is either POLITICAL IMMATURITY OR CAREFREE ATTITUDE OR BOTH. REAL LEADERSHIP IS LACKING.
Active Discussions: Niger Delta Amnesty