IN its quest for lasting peace in the Niger Delta, the Presidency yesterday reached out to militants rocking the area with violence.
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, who spoke on the peace-building process and the proposed Niger Delta summit, pledged amnesty for militants who are prepared to lay down arms.
Jonathan told members of the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission, who visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that “for those who as part of the seeming agitation may have fallen foul of the law but are now willing to make amends, the Federal Government will grant them amnesty.”
Also yesterday, a senior United Nations (UN) official told The Guardian that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Prof. Agboola Ibrahim Gambari would meet in Abuja next week to set the stage for the proposed Niger Delta summit.
Gambari, an Under Secretary-General at the UN, will chair the steering committee of the peace summit.
Jonathan told his guests led by the commission’s chairman, Supreme Court Justice Kayode Eso (rtd), that the summit would not be “business as usual”, stressing that the conference would afford the Federal Government the forum to give firm commitment to the item by item development needs of the region.
He said: “The Niger Delta summit will achieve clear results. President Umaru Yar’Adua is totally committed to bringing lasting peace to the region, hence, there will be a commitment on the part of the Federal Government and all recommendations at the summit will be carried out to the letter.”
The Vice President also gave the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all the witnesses who would testify before the Eso commission.
He commended Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State for setting up the peace body, noting that “as a former Speaker in the last administration and now a sitting governor, it must have taken him courage to set up this commission. This shows a great commitment on the part of the governor to see to the end of the crisis in Rivers State.”
Justice Eso said the panel moved to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in continuation of its sitting “to take evidence from people who have expressed concerns for their safety.”
While promising not to fail the nation in the undertaking, Eso said the commission was arranging to interview and take evidence of activists, stating that “we have seen signs that they will respond to the commission’s efforts, but they also have expressed reservations about their safety.”
He, therefore, asked the Federal Government to support the state government in ensuring a smooth passage to and fro for the activists.
On Gambari, the Federal Government through the office of the Vice President, wrote to the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, to allow the former Nigeria’s permanent representative to the world body chair the summit.
Ban in granting the request, added a clause: that Gambari’s assignment would not affect his other UN duties.
It was learnt that Yar’Adua and Gambari may discuss the modalities for holding the confab on Monday and Tuesday next week in Abuja.
Gambari’s choice has been criticised by some interest groups in the Niger Delta, who argued that it was a ploy by the government to protect a northern agenda.
The government has however allayed the fears, insisting that Gambari was eminently qualified for the task.
The source said Yar’Adua wanted a Nigerian with a total understanding of the Niger Delta crisis to head the summit.
He said: ” Gambari with his international experience is a near-perfect man for the assignment to bring a lasting solution to the Niger Delta crisis. The steering committee, which he heads, will ensure that the process is credible, all-inclusive, and the outcome of the summit implemented.”
The meeting between Yar’Adua and the UN envoy, the official said, would examine “what constitutes a successful summit, to evaluate previous efforts of similar conferences, commissions and why they have not worked and address the missing link.
“It is also to add value to previous efforts, see that its recommendations are implementable, fully funded with accountability and transparency adhered to in the use of resources voted in the project.”
He stressed the need to put in place a mechanism for the implementation of the recommendations of the summit, which would be classified into immediate, medium and long terms.
On what the envoy knows about the Niger Delta, the official said it was not only a Niger Delta issue but a Nigerian problem, adding that Gambari “who has visited the area, knows the issues at stake and is committed to bringing the Nigerian perspective to the issue would meet the aspirations of all parties.”
He said that those kicking against Gambari’s appointment were afraid of change. “Gambari may pull a surprise with the support of all Nigerians and bring a lasting solution to the problem.”
On Gambari’s alleged silence at the UN on the execution of Ogoni 11 in 1995 by the regime of the late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, the source said he had no reaction to it because of his belief that in the past 10 years as an ambassador, Gambari has done his best for Nigeria in all aspects.
“Gambari will strive to engage Mr. President and Vice President to do their job impartially and will adopt a credible way to ensure a successful outcome of the summit.”
Meanwhile, Amaechi has insisted that he would not negotiate with those who perpetuate violence in the state under the guise of militancy.
He stated this at a dinner party organised by Air France in Port Harcourt to mark their resumption of international flights from Port Harcourt Airport.
The governor explained that if pardon was granted to those who have inflicted pains on the state in recent times, Rivers’ children would think criminality pays.
He assured the airline and other companies in the state that the government would beef up security to protect the business community.