By Daniel Idonor
ABUJA—FOUR days after President Umaru Yar’Adua directed the Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament for Militants in the Niger-Delta meet with the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah, Chairman of the panel, General Godwin Abbe (rtd) yesterday acknowledged that his panel was yet to carry out the presidential order.
Abbe who made this known in a statement he personally signed, did not give reason for the failure of the panel to meet with Okah, even as he was not present to take questions from State House Correspondents.
According to him, “I already have the mandate of the President for the amnesty panel to reach-out to Henry Okah and offer him the amnesty. We are on course with regard to the implementation of this directive”.
Reacting to reports that men of the Joint Millitary Force (JTF) were preventing panic-striking residents of Gbaramatu kingdom from returning home, General Abbe explained that the Task Force was only preventing criminal returnees from entering the villages so as not to compound the security situation in these towns.
“The task force is, however, taking necessary measures to keep criminal elements out of the communities, ensure that only the genuine inhabitants return and that the people are protected from the activities of criminal opportunists who may want to take advantage of the situation”, he said.
Returnees who were denied entry into their communities had raised an alarm at a stakeholders’ meeting of residents, some militant leaders and community leaders, Tuesday, in Port Harcourt, that their people were being prevented by men of the JTF from returning home.
General Abbe’s statement is coming on the heels of a summon of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to brief Federal Executive Council (FEC) members on the implementation of the recently approved amnesty deal.
Dike who arrived a few minutes after the FEC meeting presided over by President Yar’Adua started, was said to have briefed FEC and later excused from the meeting. He did not talk to the press due to time factor.
There was however a promise that Gen. Abbe would brief the press. He did not do so but sent a statement.
His statement:
“The Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament of militants in the Niger Delta today (yesterday) briefed the Federal Executive Council on the progress of its work and its meeting with Stakeholders in Port Harcourt yesterday.
“The briefing was well received by Council members and the committee was urged to work diligently for the speedy and successful conclusion of its important assignment to facilitate the restoration of law and order through the granting of amnesty to militants who want to embrace the peace and security required for the development of the Niger Delta.
“While the Federal Government remains fully committed to establishing these prerequisite conditions of peace and stability essential for the implementation of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s developmental agenda for the Niger Delta, it will continue to do everything within its powers to mitigate the impact of unavoidable security measures on law abiding inhabitants of the region.
“In this regard, I will like to say that today’s report by a national newspaper that the military Joint Task Force (JTF) is stopping persons, displaced in the course of recent operations against militants who killed and abducted its men, from returning to the their villages, is incorrect.
“Contrary to the report, in compliance with the directive by President Yar’Adua that everything possible be done to facilitate the speedy rehabilitation of affected communities and their inhabitants, the JTF is taking steps to ensure that displaced persons can safely return home.
“The task force is, however, taking necessary measures to keep criminal elements out of the communities, ensure that only the genuine inhabitants return and that the people are protected from the activities of criminal opportunists who may want to take advantage of the situation.
“President Yar’Adua has shown commendable goodwill with this amnesty offer and I appeal to all patriotic Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to support its implementation to create the requisite enabling environment for lasting peace and development in the Niger Delta.
“I already have the mandate of the President for the amnesty panel to reach-out to Henry Okah and offer him the amnesty. We are on course with regard to the implementation of this directive.”
I commend the designer of this cartoon. This is a exactly what await those surrending their arm. I want to believe that Osama Bin Laden and Markvin are FG militant. These militant are set up by FG to show that some militants are droping their arms. Their arm surrending tactics is a make -shift events.
Nigerian pls ask Gen Abbe(rtd) his achievements as one time GOVERNOR of rivers states. Gen Abbe achieve nothing but to enter into oil cartel business. The first time I see the apponitment of anmesty cttee I know that this criminal GVT has no solution to offer to ND people. Arm struggle do not stop development. A geninue peace process in ND would have start with release of Okah, returning the refuges, withdrawal of JTF and others things before dis-armmnts. We all know that the JTF have block all the waterways with that JTF think they are starving the freedom fighter from arm supply and the GVT think they can now go into a full blown war and commit genocide as usual.
As far as I am concerned, the war is not oil war but political war. The north wants to further reduce the southern population there by reducing thier political strength. Nine states from the south make up the ND and will not achieve much infrastructural development unless they come together with a common front.
The north wants just one thing [political power - presidency] and all thier effect is on that. The south wants resource control, massive regional development, biafra, presidency, oduduwa republic, etc. How can you stand? You will always end up in agitation. Amongst all these, to be sincere, it is only presidency that can be achieved with proper agreement as others will divide Nigeria state which the majority does not want for now, especially [resource control and biafra] and massive deveopment goes with budget which is passed by National assembly dominated by the north.
Someone in Akwa ibom will say MEND has won but one from Gbaramatu knows that he has lost unquantifiably. Pls, for now, I would like MEND to allow for peace and pursue and compel POLITICIANS to do the right thing in ND. They are responsible for all our problems not the oil companies. I do not blame the oil firms but the people that gave them the powers to do what they are doing. It is the duty/right of govt to develop ND as oil firms do thier legitmate bussiness in accordance with govt instructions and also assist govt not as a mandate but at will. Govt can give the firms the responsibility of developing the area, its a matter of agreement. If it were the duty of oil firm to electrify Gbaramatu and it is not done, the govt surely will take the firm to court. The firm will not even try it. Firms are for profit after all.
If I move to England for a business, it is what the polity/ govt wants me to do that I will do. Any other thing could be at will. Shell can not do any project in Nigeria without govt approval. If govt says no, they will stop the proposal . Let us fight the cause of our problem and not the problem.
Brother Pere, you are very correct. The Vanguard cartoon sums it all
Gen. Abbe is a deceiver cum liar. I know him very well
Gen Abbe/PDP leadership is insincere and can’t be trusted. Amnesty will not work. It’s all propgnda. Frank Nweke media group is executing PDP agenda. MEND wants public debate of ND core issues. Gen Abbe u are deceitful. Nigeria military at crossroads and confused. Our leaders are incompetent. MEND is an association of smart people. Henry Okah is not the only militant in Fg/Military/JTF prisons! So JTF is also the Police Force for Ijaw communities. Every Ijaw male is a militant or suspect. BS. FG/Gen Abbe should hire more ND natives into Nigeria Police force to provide security in Gbaranmator kingdom area cos Northern dominated JTF are seen as murderers or occuption force. Fg/CBN/Politicians/Governors steal oil money and most are walking free and giving press interviews everyday. So, what’s wrong if ND so called militants steal crude from NNPC/Shell and sell to whoever wants to pay for it. What’s wrong with that? Does the oil belongs to u? Who is doing the NNPC pipeline bunkering in Lagos? Nonsense! This is hypocrisy and envy. Show me a single FG project in ND region since the end of the Biafra war. How did Odetola, Dangote, Dantata, IBB, Adenuga and others became billionaires? Who owns NNPC/PPMC? How many ND people or LGA benefit from NNPC/PPMC? Look at Eleme and Okrika communities? Why did Shell/Total replicate Bonny community housing program in Ogoniland, Okrika, Eleme, Egbema, Ebocha and other oil producing communities? Gen Abbe is loosing is trump card and I understand. It’s difficult to let Henry Okah go! But oga Yar Adua/Shell/Chevron wants Okah’s release. U got to do it. Obey order now! Amnesty is a fluke!! MEND, hold on to ur guns!