By Abel Kolawole

Amnesty Programme, granted ex-militants by the Federal Government, has been described as an eye-opener to youths of the Niger Delta. In this interview, the Delta State Chairman, Phase 2 Ex-militants, Mr Kingsley Muturu, discloses that the programme is a plus to the Nigerian government and the people.  He also comments on the Buhari administration’s fight against corruption.

Can you tell us about the implementation of the Amnesty Programme, from its inception ?

The programme is progressing because there are a lot of success stories to tell. We have had new  orientation for the former agitators; we have had better ways to approach issues regarding the Niger Delta struggle for fair treatment from the government at the centre. In fact, the Amnesty Programme has sharpened our sense of reasoning and given us a better orientation on the Nigerian state.

How do you compare the former government and the present one in terms of the programme’s implementation?

The former administration, chaired by Kingsley Kuku, did its best in carrying out re-orientation and training programmes, as well as payment of stipends to ex-agitators. Kuku recorded considerable achievements in the execution of the programme, though he might not have satisfied everybody.  And talking about the present management, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (retd) is doing his best, most especially in the area of training of youths, and that ongoing efforts will establish the programme to create job opportunities for many. We see him as somebody who has pains over the state of the Niger Delta in the discharge of his duties.

Talking about the 2016 budget as presented to the National Assembly, how do you assess the amount appropriated for the Amnesty Programme, which is below the sums appropriated for past years?

We have already reacted to that through an Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.. Buhari is a man of integrity and implementing the Amnesty Programme has to do with integrity on the part of government. We expressed  the hope that the President will see the need to re-visit the amount appropriated in the budget, because I do not think the President has ill-will towards the training programme for ex-agitators, neither am I of the opinion that the Amnesty Programme will be mishandled under his government.  I would also want to use this opportunity to call on those who have been sending unnecessary text messages to Brig. Gen. Boroh over the figure appropriated in the budget to refrain. This is because he is  working according to directives, he has no final say on any amount appropriated for the programme.

As an ex-agitator, do you have anything to say about the unfolding drama in the $2.1 billion arms scandal?

If the reports we hear are true, then I would say those indicted should be thoroughly  probed. Nobody should begin to fight against the government’s efforts to unfold the arms scandal which the former NSA is said to have disclosed. We should allow the government to probe it to the end. Who knows why Boko Haram was able to acquire sophisticated weapons to unleash terror on Nigerian citizens, many of whom had been sent to their early graves? How did they get those weapons which even scared the Nigerian military fighting these insurgents? I urge president Buhari to holistically carry out the arms probe to earn the trust of Nigerians, because there are also allegations that his anti-corruption war is targeted at perceived enemies and critics, which is not good for his image as  President of all Nigerians. I am in support of the anti-corruption war.