Abdulfattah Olajide
26 June 2009
The long-promised offer of an amnesty for militants in the restive Niger Delta region was finally delivered yesterday when they were given 100 days to surrender all their arms and renounce militancy in all its ramifications.
Detained leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) Henry Okah, as well as militant kingpins Tompollo and Ateke Tom all stand to benefit from the general amnesty.
The Amnesty Proclamation signed by President Umaru Yar'adua at a short ceremony at the State House, Abuja provides an "unconditional pardon to all persons who have directly or indirectly participated in the commission of offences associated with militant activities in the Niger Delta."
It said "the pardon shall take effect upon the surrender and handing over of all equipment, weapons, arms and ammunition and execution of the renunciation of Militancy Forms specified in the schedule hereto, by the affected persons at the nearest collection centre established for the purpose of Government in each of the Niger Delta States." The proclamation shall cease to have effect from Sunday, 4th October 2009. "The unconditional pardon granted pursuant to this proclamation shall extend to all persons presently being prosecuted for offences associated with militant activities," the proclamation also said.
Announcing the amnesty offer in a nationwide broadcast yesterday, President Yar'adua 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."
The implication of the amnesty deadline set by the president is that any recalcitrant militant who refuses to surrender by October 4, will be treated as a criminal.
Yar'adua said the amnesty and unconditional pardon is open to all persons who have directly or indirectly participated in the commission of offences associated with militant activities in the Niger Delta, including all persons presently being prosecuted for offences associated with militancy in the region.
The president said "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 sixty days."
The president stated 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."
REACTIONS
Reactions came thick and fast in the wake of yesterday's offer of an amnesty to Nigeria, with one of the commanders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Commander Tek saying President Umaru Yar'adua amnesty is "fraudulent and rubbish." the MEND does not believe in it, he said. Commander Tek told our correspondent on telephone, "We don't trust it. Asari was arrested and suddenly released. Who is safe? We don't need it."
He said the federal government should be the one seeking apology from the Niger Deltans, not the other way round. "The federal government committed genocide by killing harmless people including old men, women and children. Why is JTF busy killing, looting and raping instead of chasing militants?" he said. Asked whether MEND will surrender its arms, he said, "We don't have any arms to surrender. JTF should leave our communities." Commander Tek said there will be no peace in the region until justice is done to the people of the area.
A member of the South-South People's Solidarity Front, Bebeto Vimma welcome the amnesty, but added that the federal government should be serious. "We believe the president. We will assist him. We will embrace it. The only snag is the JTF. We are waiting to see what the government will do about it."
JTF spokesman Col Rabe Abubakar expressed happiness over the amnesty. He said, "We are working to bring about peace in this region. We are doing the government's bidding. We will do our best to see that its pronouncement works".
Asked to react to MEND's position, Col Abubakar said the task force won't trade words with the movement. "We are here to protect lives and property. We want them to embrace the president's gesture so that development of the region will continue apace".
Also yesterday, retired Deputy Police Inspector General Waheed O. Kassim, who was a member of the Presidential Committee on Police Reform, told Daily Trust, "I don't know the details of the amnesty yet, but it is good enough that the government has offered them amnesty. However, I am of the view that that no money should be given to the militants as grants. They don't deserve to be given any grant. They have wreaked great havoc on their region and on the nation. The fact that government will not prosecute them is enough benevolence for them. Rather than giving them any grant, government should provide gainful employment for them and offer them free education at all levels."
He added that "It is true that the Niger Delta has been greatly marginalised. Government should accelerate the development of the region. All these measures should placate the militants. They should accept it in their own interest and in the interest of peace. They should know that they cannot win any war against the government. The recent offensive by the JTF ought to have shown them that they can't withstand government forces."
Retired Major General IBM Haruna, who is chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, said yesterday, "The amnesty, as a political process towards resolving resource management and other issues, is a step in the right direction because the situation needs to be consolidated in a manner where peace and security can prevail, without which there can be no development. We hope that the militants and their backers will embrace the amnesty so that national security and cohesion will be enhanced."
Lagos based lawyer and President of Free Democracy, Mr. Steve Adaramoye, said on telephone that many of the militants still see themselves as revolutionaries and liberators; hence the battle must be fought to the end. According to him, the Federal government's amnesty "is a futile exercise because these set of militants do not believe that they (militants) have committed any offence to warrant amnesty."
Another lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, said that it is difficult to trust the government that has not even performed. He said amnesty is based on complete trust, adding that the Niger Delta issue is about social justice.
Lagos based lawyer Festus Keyamo said the true fighters in Niger Delta region do not need Amnesty because "they are only fighting for the interest of their fatherland." He said, "As far as I am concerned the amnesty does not have anything to do with those who are the true agitators for the condition in the Niger Delta region. Amnesty is meant for criminals but these fighters are not criminals and they have not done anything wrong to deserve amnesty. Amnesty is for those that are killing, kidnapping. They are the ones that can accept such conditions. Those who are fighting for their rights in Niger Delta do not need amnesty."
However, Mallam Yussuf Alli, SAN said all the militants in the region need to embrace government's gesture since they have taken arms against their country. He said anybody who took up arms against his fatherland is a criminal and as such he needs amnesty. "If you take up arms against your country, what do we call that? Criminal, of course. I will support anything that will bring peace, unity and progress to the country." Alli said "Even if you are fighting war with other countries, you still have to come to the table for dialogue. I think I support government's gesture is because Nigeria is losing in all fronts."
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) on its part belittled the amnesty package, saying it fell short of the general expectation.
It said "CNPP like most Nigerians waited patiently for the Amnesty Package proposed by President Yar'adua to the militants and indeed new agenda for the development or halting the regime of injustice in the restive Niger Delta region. However at the end the proclamation came and nothing new, unique or fundamental came out of the orchestrated hype."
"The questions germane are: where is the Marshal Plan to develop the region? Where is the White Paper of the Technical Committee on Niger Delta, chaired by Ledum Mitee? Where is the list of those collaborators with the Militants found in Tompolo's house? Where is the list of those both JTF and civilians who are engaged in Illegal Bunkering? Where is the Marshal Plan for the infrastructural transformation of the region?" CNPP said.
General Lawrence Onoja (rtd), who was the Principal General Staff Officer to the late military Head of State General Sani Abacha, expressed confidence in the formula used by President Yar'adua, saying it will work if what the militants want is the development of Niger Delta. He said the amnesty being offered is a soothing approach to calm the nerves, insisting that the militants must accept it and lay down arms within the 120 day-ultimatum.
"I believe Mr. President on the right track. I commend him for coming up with that formula. It will certainly work if what these boys want is the true commitment to the development of the Niger Delta", the ex-general said.
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But seriously trusting the word of a politician, you might as well juggle with hand grenades.
What part of "GET LOST" hasn't this YarAdua gotten? Just today, another explosion rocks and Yar still thinks he has any hope in hell. These petty-tyrants should be the ones begging the Nigerian public for amnesty, not the other way around. When the national income reaches zero perhaps Emperor Yar and his army will eventually get the point. Malam, do your worst and see Nigeria blow up in your face.
Those who should have their ass tried and either executed or locked up for their crimes against the Nigerian people are now those threatening the people.The Nigerian people will have the last laugh,those(polit-ciminals) who,ve become curse to that country will be filtered and put where they truly belong. Don,t the illegal govt ever realise that further threatening of an already demoralised and dissilutioned people will only tend to escalate the whole situation? we,ve always known that country not to have govts but this one should rank as one of the most senseless in their comments about the good people of the Niger delta and Nigeria generally.The country yearns for a revolution,now or never.
I am surprised at CNPP and Festus keyamo comments on the amnesty. This people have shown that the are not leaders and do not love Nigeria. Do they want people to continue to suffer in the delta region in the name of militancy? Are those militants not Nigerians? Which is better to say peace or war? If they are the ones ruling Nigeria, what would they have done? I hate it when people just want their voices to be heard when they cannot offer any solution to a problem but only condemn others. A true leader is one who love peace and support good steps for a solution to a problem not the one that finds fault on others when they cannot offer any solution. CNPP is suppose to be a group of opposition party. What have they done to try and solve the problem there? Are they waiting for when they come to power? That is not how opposition works else where. They should while in opposition show the people that if given the chance they can do great things by doing the little they can now physically, not only on pages of the news papers. I am not a PDP member and i am not a politician. We need peace in all regions in Nigeria. We need to support the govt. of the day. From SA.