Chuks Okocha, Segun Awofadeji and Victor Efeizomor
29 June 2009
Lagos — Mr Solomon Ndigbara, a militant leader from the Ogoni area of Rivers, has called on the Federal Government to put in place a comprehensive rehabilitation programme for repentant militants.
This is coming as President Umaru Musa Yar Adua commended militants that have accepted the amnesty offer of his government in the interest of peace and stability of the region and the country at large. He expressed optimism that the amnesty offer would solve the lingering crisis in the region, and called on all militant leaders to embrace it.
Ndigbara had surrendered his weapons to the Federal Government on June 26 at Yeghe in Gokana Local Government area of the state.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday at Yeghe that his decision to surrender his arms and ammunition was "God's calling."
"This is God"s calling and I commend President Yar'Adua for granting unconditional pardon to militants in the Niger Delta Region," he said.
Ndigbara, who blamed politicians for arming youths to work for them during elections against their opponents, said:"They buy the weapons for the youths and after the election, they abandon such youths.
"Politicians should stop buying guns for youths because after elections, the guns remain with the boys and they use them for other purposes.
"I have about 60 boys working for me and I will make sure that their weapons are recovered and given to the government."
Speaking at the Ibrahim Babangida Square, Bauchi, weekend during the occasion of the presentation of PDP flag to Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, the president said he was happy that some of the militants had come out to lay down their arms and agreed to stop the violence in the region.
According to him,"I thank God for this favour on Nigeria. I thank the militants for accepting this and for being patriotic enough to understand and accept the amnesty for the greater benefit of the country" .
The president called on Nigerians, particularly those who are aggrieved in one way or the other to come forward and identify with his government assuring that his administration would provide the necessary atmosphere for very one to participate in building the nation.
"Let's work hard and exert ourselves to see that Nigeria becomes one of the best economies in the year 2020. My government will continue to ensure peace and harmony and provide the enabling environment for this transformation", he added.
He further added that, "We will try and bring all Nigerians who feel aggrieved and we want to ensure that we reconcile all those who are not happy with the Nigerian project for the country to have the required peace and stability " .
Also the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appealled to the militants in the Niger Delta who are yet to accept Federal Government's offer of amensty as part of gesture towards creating a friendly environment for the resolution of the crisis and tackle underdevelopment in the region to do so now.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Prof. Ahmed Alkali, the party also commended President Yar'Adua for the declaration of the amnesty.
Meanwhile, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has called on the restive youths in the Niger-Delta to embrace the Federal Government's amnesty offer as it is in the best interest of the region and the country in general.
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