By Sampson Boroh
Former Niger Delta agitators have accused the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the lnterim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Gen. Milland Dikio (rtd) of plotting to terminate the amnesty programme without completing the mobilization, rehabilitation and training of repentant militants.
The former agitators under the aegis of Refined Niger Delta Militants (RNDM), however, called for the immediate resignation or sack of the amnesty boss.
Coordinator of ex-agitators, Alabeni Otobo, who spoke in Yenagoa on Thursday, warned against what he described as attempt to abruptly end the amnesty programme when some of the items on the programme had not been fulfilled.
Otobo stressed that alleged plans to terminate the exercise will generate renewed militancy in the creeks of the Niger Delta oil rich region, and the peace of the country would be threatened if allowed to scale through.
He posited that the Federal government of Nigeria has not fulfilled his part of the agreements reached with the Niger Delta agitators before they accept Amnesty in 2009, noting that out of the Thirty-five thousand (35, 000 00) beneficiaries, only about twenty thousand (20, 000) had acquired training and education.
“What will be the fate of the remaining fifteen thousand (15, 000 00) if the programme is abruptly terminated? That means they have no other option than to go back to the creeks to renew agitation, and the destruction of oil pipelines will be the order of the day. And you know the consequences that will befall the Nigerian government if such happen.
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“The Federal government had not even built the 3bedroom flat with a car promised to each of the ex-agitators of the Niger Delta and Mr. Dikio is planning with the National Security Adviser, Mr. Babagana Mugunu and some of our selfish, myopic self-acclaimed leaders in Port Harcourt plotting to terminate the programme.
“Let Miland go back to study the terms of agreement signed with former late. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of blessed memory before engaging himself into this fruitless devilish plot against his own people. He should know the reason of his appointment is to serve and protect our interest and not the other way round”, the former militant leader stated.
Meanwhile, they charged the interim Chairman Dikio and his committee members to as a matter of urgency to follow the lay down procedures by deploying them now to study in the university, if not, the peace in the country would be threatened when they renew hostility in the creeks of Niger Delta.
However, they called on President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President, former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, Speaker House of Reps, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, ljaw National Leader, Pa. E.K. Clark, Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief. Timipre Sylva, Niger Delta former warlords, High Chief. Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, HRM. King Ateke Tom, Gen. Boyloaf Ebikabowei Victor Ben, High Chief Bibopere Ajube aka ‘Shoot-at-Sight’, Gen. Fara Dagogo and lYC President, Comr Dcn. Timothy Igbifa to caution Mr. Dikio and those working with him to disorganized the existing peace in the region.
