Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim has faulted Federal Government's N6 billion post amnesty compensation to militants in the State, saying the amount was grossly inadequate.

Saturday Champion recalls that the Federal Government had earmarked N200billon for resettlement of militants, who embraced its August 11 amnesty offer and surrendered their arms and ammunition to the Joint Military Task Force (JTF).

Delivering a lecture in Lagos titled, "Amnesty: Quick fix or silver bullet?" organized by Free Media Communications Network Limited, publishers of News Digest, the governor lamented that the N6billion given to his state for the resettlement of militants did not reflect fairness and justice.

He said "the issue is not just about money. It is about fairness, it is about justice, it is about equity." He stressed "And these are issues that often aggravate conflicts in our country...they should have received greater compensation to show that the Federal Government values peace as an option to violence."

Describing the amnesty to militants as a wise step taken by President Umaru Yar'Adua in addressing the Niger Delta crisis, Gov. Ohakim urged the government to review the amount given to the state.

He flayed some people who were critical of the amnesty offer, describing them as doomsday elements who never saw anything good about Nigeria and the political leaders.

Calling on the media and the populace to refrain from labeling the country a failed state, Ohakim said the task before every citizen was to join forces with the government to make amnesty initiative to succeed. He however listed 11 steps that must be taken by the Federal Government and all the stakeholders in the Niger Delta to drive the programme.

The steps he enumerated include addressing the gas flaring issue decisively; involving the people of Niger Delta in the design and execution of developmental projects; tackling pollution from effluents by oil companies and revisiting Land use Act in the area.

Also, the governor called for an inclusive and participatory constitutional reform to help deal with the long term issue of how various groups relate with one another and with the Nigerian State.

In addition to that, he implored the Federal Government to aggressively pursue youth employment, step up funding of education and increase funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Gov. Ohakim charged oil companies to go beyond building civic centers and commit more resources to the development of communities in the Niger Delta, contending that is the way it is done in other climes.

The event, which was chaired by renowned industrialist, Molade Okaya-Thomas, was graced by prominent Nigerians, including Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Chief Doyin Okupe, Prof. Aloy Ejiogu, Chief Marcon Nlemigbo, Chief Tony Chukwu and Chief Innocent Oparadike.