By Oghene Omonisa

Mr Kingsley Muturu is the Delta State Chairman of the Phase 2 of the Amnesty programme for ex-militants. In this interview, he expressed displeasure over Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh’s plan to exit 5,000 beneficiaries of the amnesty programme at the end of this month without putting in place strategies to cater for already trained ex-militants, as well as the issue of delayed in payment of stipends and other issues.

Excerpts:

What is the fate of the amnesty programme in the midst of resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta?

The programme is progressing and we believe we have gone far and all things being equal we will get to a successful conclusion.

Already, Boroh has said in an interview with the Vanguard newspaper that 5,000 beneficiaries will be exited from the programme at the end of this month followed by another batch in December next year. Does this indicate that the government is actually committed to the execution of the programme?

First, I want to advise Boroh not to take hasty decisions without proper foundation otherwise he may sabotage the efforts of government all these years. Niger Delta ex-militant leaders have frowned at the plan to delist 5,000 beneficiaries from the programme at the end of this month. We are saying that the decision is ill-timed and detrimental to the ex-agitators and the programme. For us, we know that government has not fulfilled its side of the agreement. We have not been paid our benefits, monthly stipends are in arrears and the trained ones amongst us have not been engaged or empowered.

Will you agree that he may have already put such plans in place before taking this decision?

You cannot delist beneficiaries before announcing any plan of empowerment or engagement. You must show that things have already been done for people to see that you are serious or sincere and not the other way round. Those of us who are ex-militant leaders in phase 2 advised Boroh to rescind his hasty decision in order not to compound issues in the region.

Presently, we are not aware that any proper plan of engagement or empowerment for trained agitators had been put in place by government. If Boroh’s statement in his interview in the Vanguard newspaper should be taken seriously, it would mean 5,000 ex-agitators would be out on the streets without proper care at the end of this month which will not be helpful to the system.

In essence what is your position,?

We, the ex-militant leaders have met over this sudden development from Boroh and we hereby advise him to consult widely before embarking on such a sensitive decision as the federal government’s amnesty programme should not be jeopardized after spending much time, efforts and money in the process. We also use this medium to urge government to review the 2016 budget for the programme because the figure as it is appears inadequate for the successful implementation of the programme. We are against Boroh’s hasty decision because it is detrimental to us and it also not in the interest of the amnesty programme.

Have you tried to find out reasons for this plan to delist some beneficiaries of the programme?

We were not given any prior knowledge, we only saw it in the media. We will not agree with him to even delist one beneficiary without following due process. Boroh should not take a decision that would impact negatively on smooth completion of the programme because the federal government should fulfil its part of the agreement before disengagement.