Amnesty: Ogbulafor appeals to militants

By Henry Umoru

…tasks N-Delta indigenes on vigilance

ABUJA—THE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor yesterday urged other militant groups that were yet to announce a ceasefire to lay down their arms and reciprocate the gesture of the Federal government.

According to him, the move would help create an enabling environment for government to address the development needs of the Niger Delta region, just as he called on citizens of the region to be vigilant and “to henceforth ensure that their legitimate aspirations for an enhanced standard of living were no longer hijacked by criminals for their own selfish interests.

“The recourse to violence, vandalisation, kidnappings and insecurity is counterproductive to all parties and breeds no one any good”, he said.

Part of the statement  by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Professor Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali in Abuja yesterday, however, commended President Umaru Yar’Adua for the amnesty declaration for militants in the Niger Delta, adding, “this move is a practical demonstration of the President’s avowed determination to proffer a lasting solution to the crisis in the Niger Delta which has indeed taken a huge toll on the nation’s human and natural resources. It also goes a long way in showing the President’s sincerity in addressing the myriad of problems in the troubled region.

According to him, “While commending the Government for this significant show of magnanimity, we are pleased to note that some of the militant kingpins have embraced the offer and are now willing to cooperate with the government to finally bring an end to the violent agitations that have set the region several years backwards.

“We also appeal to citizens of the Niger Delta region to be vigilant and henceforth ensure that their legitimate aspirations for an enhanced standard of living are no longer hijacked by criminals for their own selfish interests”.