Youth leaders in Niger Delta have warned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen Babagana Mungunu (rtd), of the implications of hijacking the management of the Presidential Amnesty Office.
The leaders explained that the mismanagement of the Amnesty Programme could lead to a return of armed restiveness in the oil-producing Niger Delta region.
They urged the NSA to liaise with leaders of the Niger Delta region to nominate at least five representatives to the Interim Committee for the Amnesty Office.
A Niger Delta activist, Mr. Charles Omusuku, said that the Amnesty Programme was a product of dialogue and consultation and wondered why the NSA was bent on unilaterally taking over the scheme with a view to winding up the scheme.
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He said that the plot to hijack the amnesty scheme which was historically run by people of the Niger Delta region was both provocative and unacceptable.
“The history of the amnesty offer was not by coercion but by consultation, dialogue and stakeholder engagement and the ex-militants accepted the offer due to their peaceful disposition and the quest to give peace a chance.
“We urge the President to call the NSA to order and immediately include at least five representatives of the region and appoint a replacement for Prof Charles Dokubo from amongst the Ijaws in the Niger Delta.
“We want the president to wade in and convene a stakeholders’ engagement with Ijaws led by Bayelsa Governor, Senator Douye Diri, leader of Ijaw Elders Consultative Forum Chief T.K Okoriba to chart a way forward,” Omusuku said.
