Leadership (Abuja)
Abiodun Oluwarotimi and Uchenna Awom
25 October 2009
New York/Abuja — There are strong indications that the United Nations is disappointed over its non-inclusion in the amnesty deal by the Federal Government of Nigeria with Niger Delta militants. Sources within the organisation cautioned that such sidelining could be counter-productive for the country.
But in a swift reaction, the Federal Governmetn refused to internationalise the problem, but added that it would however accept the support of foreigners who wish to assist.
In an address to editors and heads of media organisations in Lagos yesterday, the Minister of Defence, Major General Godwin Abbe (rtd) said government had met with the diplomatic community and pleaded with them to convey her position to their various governments.
The UN warning came as the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) yesterday announced an indefinite ceasefire beginning from midnight on Sunday.
A UN source disclosed to LEADERSHIP on phone that the world body had always wanted to supervise such areas of the amnesty as disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation.
The body had, through its Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Mr. Farhan Hag, raised its voice against its non-inclusion in the recent amnesty pact between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the militants of the Niger Delta Region. The UN said that the world body had not been monitoring the pact.
Of particular concern, according to official sources, is whether the Federal Government was following the UN model of disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation in managing the situation.
The official stated that while the disarmament and demobilisation part may have been essentially accomplished, it is the last stage of rehabilitation that is of the most concern at the UN.
Nonetheless, LEADERSHIP reliably gathered that the deal would have received more international acclaim, and could have been more effective, especially in the area of rehabilitation, had the world body been invited to play a vital role in the process.
In the same vein, a very reliable source in an internet chat with our correspondent, disclosed that the UN was not happy with its non-inclusion, adding that it could have assisted Nigeria in disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation.
He said: "Nigeria has failed in the area of rehabilitation. It will be very hard for the country to effectively work on the rehabilitation process alone without the support of the United Nations.
The technical aspect is also very important and this is one of the things that the United Nations would have done successfully".
Nigeria, the source further stated, has not done well by sidelining the United Nations, and that fears that the matter would become a project of the World body could have made the country to exclude it during the amnesty deal.
"Nigerian government did not want the glory and praises to go to the United Nations, hence it wanted to handle the issue alone.
I believe that the government is still hiding some things, may be these are things they knew that the UN would have gone against if it was consulted during the deal.
"This may be counter- productive, because the UN still has a very vital role to play in sensitive issues such as that. Moreover, no nation can single-handedly and successfully deal with amnesty without the help of the UN organ", said the source.
However, MEND in an on-line press release by its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said the indefinite cessation of hostilities was to encourage dialogue between the government and the team that MEND had selected to negotiate its demands for lasting peace in the Niger Delta region.
The latest position he said was in adherence to the expressed readiness of the Federal Government last Tuesday to engage in serious and meaningful dialogue with every group or individual towards achieving a lasting peace in the Niger Delta.
"This welcome shift in position conveyed to the movement by Mr. Henry Okah, after his meeting with President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua on Monday, October 19, indicated the willingness of the government to negotiate with the MEND's Aaron team", he said.
Gbomo also disclosed in the release that the Aaron Team has been modified with the exit of Ms. Annkio Briggs by mutual consent, and her replacement as the group's liaison by Mr. Amagbe Denzel Kentebe.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government seems to have subtly extended the amnesty deadline to an undertermined date, with the declaration by the Minister of Defence, Major General Godwin Abbe (rtd), that repentant militants, who decide to surrender now could be accepted as 'prodigal sons'.
According to him, after the civil war, some of the communities along the river Niger near Onitsha refused to surrender, until they were persuaded to do so six months after the rebellion collapsed.
"As at October 15, 15,260 militants have surrendered and their finger prints were taken to facilitate issuance of identity cards. The amnesty committee will receive militants who come out after the deadline as prodigal sons", he said.
Also Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili at the occasion said, "Before government chose the path of amnesty, the situation in the Niger Delta was well known by all Nigerians and the international community. Armed groups had proliferated across the region, taking hostages, destroying vital infrastruture, sabotaging the nation's oil industry and threatening a general breakdown of law and order in the region in particular and the nation at large," she said.
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