President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua has demanded an undertaking from Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders of the Niger Delta region before he can release the detained leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujarheedin Asari-Dokubo.
Our correspondent learnt that Yar�Adua also insisted on an undertaking from the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Timipre Sylva-Sam, that Dokubo would not breach the peace again after his release.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that Yar�Adua said a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, should be one of the Ijaw leaders to guarantee that Dokubo would be of good behaviour.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the arrest of Dokubo in 2005 and he is currently facing treason charges in a Federal High Court, Abuja.
Leaders and youths of the region have consistently demanded an unconditional release of Dokubo as a panacea for peace in the region.
Various militant groups in the region, especially the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, also insisted that there would be no peace until Dokubo regained freedom.
Our correspondent learnt that Yar�Adua at a meeting with Silva-Sam and his colleagues from Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; and Rivers State, Mr. Celestine Omehia, in Abuja on Monday, expressed worries that Dokubo might resume hostility with the Federal Government and oil multinationals after regaining freedom.
A reliable source told our correspondent in Warri, on Wednesday that Yar�Adua was favourably disposed to the release of Dokubo to restore a lasting peace to the troubled region.
Our source said Monday�s meeting ended with a directive to Jonathan and the governors to meet Dokubo and discuss the conditions for his release with him.
Yar�Adua, according to our source, said he expected a written undertaking signed by Jonathan, and other leaders of the region later.
However, Dokubo�s lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, said he had heard about the position of President Yar�Adua on the fate of his client.
He added that he was not in a position to confirm or deny the report since he was not invited to the meeting.
Meanwhile, Yar�Adua has also directed the governors of Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers states to find a lasting solution to the problem of hostage-taking and other criminal activities in the region.
Uduaghan disclosed this at a press conference in Warri on Wednesday.
He said the President directed them to work together to restore sanity in the troubled region.
Consequently, Uduaghan said the three governors had been meeting and deliberating on the problem in compliance with the presidential directive.