President Umaru Yar’Adua has reacted to the threat by Niger Delta governors to withdraw support for the amnesty deal over a contentious Petroleum Reform Bill and government’s purported anti South-South policies.
Speaking through his media adviser, Olusegun Adeniyi over the weekend the president said he is genuinely committed to the development of the region and is certain all contentious issues will be resolved amicably.
He said the only agenda the president has for the Niger Delta is not that of a North/South dichotomy but one which will create enabling environment for development in the region.
His words: “There is a serious misunderstanding about some of the issues raised but the president is very concerned and has been talking with the Niger Delta governors individually and I am aware a meeting had already been scheduled with them even before this latest development.
“President Yar’Adua has tremendous respect for the people of the Niger Delta, identifies with the challenges in the region and is desirous of bringing development once peace is attained.
“The president believes in dialogue as the governors know very well and I am very sure the issues will be amicably resolved.”
Adeniyi said the president has been receiving daily briefings from his honourary adviser on Niger Delta, Timi Alaibe, and the Amnesty Panel Chairman and Defence Minister, Godwin Abbe, and he is convinced that the process is still very much on course.
“From August 6, when the 60-day amnesty process commences officially, Nigerians will begin to see the evidence of cooperation by the militant leaders, many of whom have bought into President Yar’Adua’s agenda for peace and development in Niger Delta.
“And, I want to reiterate that the only agenda President Yar’Adua has for Niger Delta is not that of ‘North’ or ‘South’, but simply to create the enabling environment for development to which he is strongly committed,” the spokesman added.
At the meeting of the South South governors which took place in Asaba, the Delta State capital from Thursday to Friday last week, they resolved to distance themselves from the amnesty deal granted militants in the oil rich region by President Yar’Adua unless the Federal Government withdraws the new Petroleum Industries Bill which is before the National Assembly.
They had taken a swipe at the Federal Government over what they described as anti-people programmes of the current administration
and specifically singled out the Petroleum Minister, Rilwanu Lukman, who they accused of anti the South South.
Besides, the governors condemned the plan to relocate the proposed University of Petroleum in Effurum, Delta State to Kaduna just as they complained that President Yar’Adua has not articulated any definite post-amnesty plan for the Niger Delta.