Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva; his counterparts, Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) are among dignitaries to attend a two-day conference on the way forward for Niger Delta post-amnesty, tagged "Hague 2010." It is scheduled to hold between February 25 and 26, 2010 in the Hague, Netherlands.

The seminar, which is being organised by Hope for Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the Netherlands, has the theme: "Niger Delta Peace Consolidation Conference," and it is expected to also host ex-militant leaders, such as Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, Victor Ben Ebikabowei aka Boyloaf, Tom Ateke, Leader of the Deadly Underdog, Sobomabo Jackrich, Mujahid Asari Dokubo and others.

Foremost Ijaw leader, Chief E.K. Clark, Comrade Joseph Evah (Ijaw Monitory Group), Tony Uranta (United Niger Delta Energy, Security and Strategy), Dr. Chris Ekiyor (Ijaw Youth Council), Mr. Ledum Mitee (chairman, Niger Delta Technical Committee), Dr. Atuboyedia Obianime (Ijaw National Congress), Mr. Chibuzor Ugwoha (managing director, NDDC), Chief Wellington Okrika (DESOPADEC), will also grace the seminar. The House of Representatives will be represented by the Chairmen of the following committees, Niger Delta, Ad-Hoc Committee on Niger Delta Crisis, Defense, Petroleum and Gas Resources (Upstream and Downstream).

The conference, according to experts, has become significant in the light of the fragile achievement recorded by Federal Government so far in the Niger Delta.

But Founder/President, HNDC, Sunny Ofehe, said there was need to consolidate on the successes so far achieved through the amnesty programme to avoid a situation where the Niger Delta will slide back into the state of anarchy that pervaded the region in the last three years.

His words: "The emerging tendencies in the aftermath of the amnesty have shown that Nigerian government does not have all the solutions to ensuring a permanent peace in the oil producing region.

"In the last months after the former freedom fighters surrendered their weapons, the reality is that there are still several discordant voices reverberating from aggrieved ex-militant leaders, who feel short-changed in the process of disarmament.

"Besides, the current effort to end restiveness in the Niger Delta region could be unsustainable unless the involvement of the international community such as the European Union, which can command respect of the parties in the matter. The militants too, want the Nigerian Government to seek foreign help in the post amnesty programme because of the fear that those currently in charge of the programme have little or no experience in crisis management."

He pointed out that a peaceful Niger Delta will conduce into a safe business environment for oil multinationals and non-governmental agencies operating in the region.

Ofehe also said was in the interest of countries whose nationals have substantial interest in the oil firms to support the conference.

"The Nigerian government and indeed the international community dependent on oil cannot again allow the Niger Delta slide back into the state of anarchy that pervaded the area in the last three years," he said.