THERE were conflicting signals yesterday over the proposed meeting between the Federal Government and the Aaron team of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
While the Minister of Defence, Godwin Abbe, yesterday foreclosed any parley with MEND, the militant group yesterday declared an “indefinite ceasefire” to its armed struggle “to encourage the process of dialogue between the government and the team that MEND has selected to negotiate its demands for a lasting peace in the Niger Delta region.”
Abbe spoke yesterday in Lagos during an interactive session with media executives, including the President of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Gabir Mohammed and the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Gbenga Adefaye.
Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, was also at the session where the Federal Government also listed the gains of its amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta.
Abbe, who disclosed that regular engagement between the government and select militant leaders would start this week, was however emphatic that the Federal Government would not meet with MEND’s Aaron Team.
His words: “Who are the Aaron Team? Are they militants? Government stand is that a group of Nigerians cannot negotiate for the Niger Delta people. We are already discussing with the people concerned and they are the right people we should be talking to. Discussion is going on with the militants and government is already listening to them. So, why should we bring in those who are not affected or concerned with the problem in the creeks?
“MEND’s position is not logical. They are one of the many groups who have expressed their grievances to government on the acts of omission and commission of successive governments at all levels. Why are we going to give recognition to one group out of many? Government’s amnesty is not to MEND; it is to all militants and it is those who have come to us and surrendered their weapons that we can discuss with.”
But in an online statement yesterday, MEND’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, wrote: “On Tuesday, October 20, 2009, the Federal Government of Nigeria expressed its readiness to engage in serious and meaningful dialogue with every group or individual towards achieving a lasting peace in the Niger Delta.
“This welcome shift in position conveyed to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) by Mr. Henry Okah after his meeting with President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on Monday, October 19, 2009, indicated the willingness of the government to negotiate with the MEND Aaron Team.
“To encourage the process of dialogue between the government and the team that MEND has selected to negotiate its demands for a lasting peace in the Niger Delta region, an indefinite cease-fire has been ordered and takes effect from 0000Hrs, Sunday, October 25, 2009.
“The Aaron Team has been modified with the exit of Ms Annkio Briggs by mutual consent. She has been replaced as the group’s liaison with immediate effect by Mr. Amagbe Denzel Kentebe.”
Abbe disclosed that 15,260 militants have accepted the amnesty deal and surrendered various types and quantities of arms and ammunitions,
On the amnesty gains, Abbe said: “It has ushered in the cessation of arms conflict and wanton destruction of lives and properties in the region. A large number of assorted arms have been surrendered and there has been a steady return to social cohesion and decency. Besides, Nigeria’s oil output has increased from about 1.3 million barrels per day in July to about 1.84 million barrels. Even though we have a potential of three million barrels per day, that production level is achievable in the next few years if we maintain the present peace efforts.
“Our electricity situation has continued to improve and Nigeria’s international image has improved since the grant of amnesty.”
The defence minister noted that with the successful execution of the disarmament and demobilisation process of the amnesty, “the next critical stage is the rehabilitation, reintegration and direct infrastructural and economic development of the Niger-Delta region.
“The challenge for us is to ensure that they are fully resettled to prevent them from returning to the creeks.”
Akunyili said government was not unmindful of the challenges of the post-amnesty phase. Her words: “We see the return of hope and we are determined to take all necessary steps to vigorously address these challenges, in order to bring about long lasting peace and sustainable development.
“In the spirit of re-branding, we want to believe there are ex-militants and not militants in the Niger Delta. At the point of disarmament, the biometrics of the ex-militants were captured through the completion of the biometric form. The data include basic, social and historical profile of the ex-militants. The aim is to extract as much information as possible from the ex-militants and the output of the process is a comprehensive database and the issuance of identity card to them.”
Abbe reiterated the government’s resolve to accelerate the implementation of the Niger Delta master plan, including the construction of East-West highway, the Atlantic coastal highway, the East-West rail line running through Calabar-Uyo-Port Harcourt-Yenagoa-Warri-Benin-Lagos, massive land reclamation and development of new towns.