The amnesty programme for repentant Niger Delta militants is on course contrary to speculations that it may have run into a hitch, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi said yesterday.
Fielding questions from State House Correspondents in Abuja, Adeniyi said “I can assure you that the amnesty process is going on very well to the delight of the president, contrary to what some people assume”.
According to the presidential spokesman, “the disarmament we are talking about is a painstakingly technical process which requires behind-the-scene negotiations that would ultimately lead to ridding Niger-Delta of armed camps so that peace can return for development”.
Adeniyi commended Mr. Ben Victor alias General Boyloaf and his fellow militants in the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) for embracing the amnesty. “That is why I must commend not only Boyloaf and his comrades who were the first to publicly accept the Amnesty but indeed the entire MEND leadership, who have shown clearly in recent days that they are for peace and development in the Niger-Delta”, he said
He expressed optimism that” if the on-going negotiation continues the way they are going this whole amnesty process can be tidied up before the 60 days official period”. He noted that “very delighted with the renewed commitment of the Niger-Delta Governors and leaders some of who have made critical interventions in the last one week”.
He advised “ the media not to judge the success of the exercise by the number of arms or militants who turn-up at the collection centers just as I want to make it clear that the Federal Government is not negotiating with groups or individuals who want payment for arms”.
He pointed out that “the negotiation is with MEND and other militant leaders who are seeking genuine commitment to the development of the Niger-Delta which is basically the principal agenda of President Yar’adua”.