Abuja — With the recent development in the amnesty process, the federal government has been advised to expedite action in rehabilitating the militants of the Niger Delta if the amnesty must work. Amnesty may be a temporary solution to the problems in the Niger Delta region if the causes of the crisis are not solved and the general living standard of the people improved.

Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND in Abuja, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, a former chief of staff to Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, said that although the amnesty was a good step taken by the president, he did not see the amnesty process as a possible solution to the problems of poverty ravaging the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large, saying that the solutions to the problem of youth unrest in the country was the social responsibility of the government which should provide jobs, law and order, as well as general security for Nigerians.

Gabam described the amnesty process as a cosmetic issue, saying that he does not see the amnesty going far since the government has not done anything tangible to provide jobs for these youths in Nigeria and not just a section of the country. This is because all other parts of Nigeria have contributed by investing heavily to make sure that oil industry is developed in the South- South region.

"The issue of poverty is a national issue and not a sectional one. It has to be managed in a way that it will not create crisis situations in the country. No responsible citizen will take arms and do anything to undermine the authority once he is being cared for. Crisis will not stop until the problems are solved. The problems will not stop by simple amnesty," he concluded.