This Day (Lagos)
Juliana Taiwo
4 November 2009
Abuja — About 30 ex-militants , yesterday in Abuja, told the Federal Government that they were tired of attending endless meetings and would instead want to see the immediate implementation of the government's post-amnesty programmes as promised without further delay.
The ex-militants, comprising the prominent ones such as Ateke Tom, Tompolo, Africa, who turned up at the Chelsea Hotel venue of a meeting convened by the Federal Government to interact with them and keep them abreast of the government's post-amnesty programme, said the action of government since they laid down their arms was making them to have a re-think .
They even lamented heeding the call to accept the government's amnesty, adding that from the several meetings they have had , the impression being given was that the government was not prepared for the implementation phase.
Speaking on behalf of the ex-militants, Dr. Chris Ekiyo lamented that yesterday made it 30 days since they accepted the amnesty offer. He stressed that they have exhausted everything needed to say in previous meetings, ssaying they were only waiting for the implementation of what was agreed on.
"It is 30 days today since we accepted the amnesty programme. 30 days after, the people gathered here and those not here and I guess the larger part of Nigerians are beginning to ask what were the government's pre-disarmament and post-disarmament plansbefore the amnesty. "We want to say we are tired of having these meetings.
The way and manner we have been attending meetings, I am aware that from 2007 tilldate we have exhausted whatever needs to be said and we are beginning to wonder why we are having these meetings. And we are beginning towonder why we are having these meetings.
Today you call this group, tomorrow you call another group and nothing is being said. "We are beginning to ask the question if we actually took the right decision by accepting this amnesty offer," he said.
Earlier, Minister of Defence, Major General Godwin Abbe (rtd), had said the meeting was called to enable government interact with the repented militants and let them know the efforts government had embarked on to address the grievances of the region.
He disclosed that two camps have been opened in Delta and Rivers states and committees have been set up to over see the activities of these camps.
He also reiterated that preference will be given to those who were in the creeks but urged that the contributions from the repented militants will help government identify the real repented militants and those who are taking advantage of the amnesty programme.
Also, Minister of Nigeria Delta, Chief Ufot Ekaette, had while welcoming and congratulating the repented militants for accepting the amnesty programme, said the duty of his ministry was to ensure that those who opt for skills acquisition would have jobs awaiting them on completion of their training.
He said that was why a job fair was held recently where job providers were showcased and those who will do the training were identified.
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