*2011 elections under threat

By Emma AMAIZE

THERE are fresh worries that the post-amnesty programme of the Federal Government for ex-militants may  run into troubled waters on account of bureaucratic logjam.

There are also fears that the ex-militants may  be used to sabotage the 2011 elections if the Federal Government fails   to find out the undercurrents and tackle them before the elections.

Investigation  by Sunday Vanguard at the weekend showed that  funds for the payment of stipends  and the  training programme  proper  for the 20,192 ex-militants are not readily available, even though President Goodluck Jonathan has  directed that the program should be taken as a priority.

The fiscal blockage has pitched the Post-Amnesty Committee, headed by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta, Chief Timi Alaibe, against ex-militants.

It was  gathered  that the Alaibe committee was finding it difficult to meet the infrastructural needs of the program, but  it does not want to create the impression publicly that it was facing financial crisis, and so, has kept sealed lip.

“At the moment, the infrastructure sub-committee and petroleum asset protection sub-committee of the Amnesty Committee  have not made notable headway with the Ministry of Niger-Delta and the Ministry of Petroleum on job opportunities for the  ex-militants. Everything is on paper and this is also disturbing”,  a source said.

Immediate past president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and convener of the Nigeria Youth Integration Summit, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, who spoke  on the development, yesterday, asked  the Federal Government to commit itself fully to the amnesty program like it has done with the voters registration by also releasing funds for payment of stipends and transformation program of the ex-militants.

His words, “This call has become necessary as sensors are that technical jam in the system is slowing down the implementation of the program.

“I am worried that  if these youths are not meaningfully transformed, Mr. President’s dream of credible election will face great challenges, as these characters are capable of creating a new type of restiveness in the hands of politicians.”

“Also, the infrastructure and petroleum sub-committee must be seen working with the appropriate Ministry of Niger-Delta and Ministry of Petroleum to create the opportunity for meaningful engagement of these youths after training. The slow pace if not adequately managed can endanger our democracy”.