A top militant who has held talks with the government about laying down arms took out a full-page newspaper advert on Wednesday detailing demands that include a military withdrawal from the oil-producing Niger Delta.
Ekpemuopolo Tompolo, a leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has held informal talks with the government about surrendering his weapons in return for a presidential offer of amnesty.
Security and federal officials said on Tuesday that a deal with Mr. Tompolo and two other senior militants, Ateke Tom and Farah Dagogo, could be reached within days.
In an open letter to President Umaru Yar’Adua published in The Nation on Wednesday, Mr. Tompolo said the offer of amnesty to gunmen in the Niger Delta was seen as part of a wider peace process rather than an end in itself.
He said peace would only be achieved once there was dialogue with the government about core issues in the delta, including the withdrawal of the Joint Military Taskforce from the region.
“They may win this war against our just cause, but they cannot win the peace in any guise,” Mr. Tompolo said. “I urge you to authorise your government to commence dialogue with representatives of the people of the region, nominated from elders and leaders of youths.” A source close to Tompolo said the letter was authentic.
Mr. Yar’Adua in June offered amnesty to all gunmen in the Niger Delta to try to stem unrest which has prevented Nigeria from pumping more than two-thirds of its oil capacity, costing it billions of dollars a year in lost revenues.
The proposal appears to have exposed divisions within the militants’ ranks, with some factions ready to accept the offer but MEND’s spokesman warned that attacks on oil infrastructure will resume again once a ceasefire ends later this month.
Bunkering by the powerful
But Mr. Tompolo said the authorities used bunkering to malign the legitimate struggle of militants and called on Mr. Yar’Adua to take action against powerful members of the political and business elite who benefit from the illegal trade.
“Such expensive ventures requiring huge finances, power and contacts can only be carried out by the mighty in government and huge businesses,” he said. “Who provides or buys the vessels and equipment? Who settles the military and has the connections with the foreigners and refineries. I … urge Mr. President to show will and determination to stop bunkering in the region and see how the mighty in Lagos and Abuja will fall.”