Henry Okah, freed by the government recently, has met key militant leaders in Nigeria ‘s Niger Delta as he seeks to help the peace process, one of his lawyers said yesterday.
Speaking to Dow Jones Newswires over the phone, Wilson Ajuwa said “already, we (Okah and his lawyers) visited major stakeholders in the waterways, freedom fighters” last week.
Okah was freed earlier this month when a presidential amnesty led to the discontinuation of a treason case against him.
He is now using his freedom to mediate between the militants and the government after the presidency offered a pardon to them and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta declared a cease-fire.
Among those Okah met, Ajuwa listed Farah Dagogo, a founding leader of MEND, and Ateke Tom, who commands a militia not affiliated with this coalition.
Okah’s release has long been a demand by militants, as a test of the government’s sincerity, and they have said they wanted to talk to him before accepting any offer.
Ajuwa said the visit last week focused on Rivers State , in the Eastern Delta, adding “we need to meet some others.”
“We are looking for the way forward and a permanent solution to this crisis,” Ajuwa said. “To find a lasting solution, it’s important to meet with these people (militant leaders),” he added. Asked if Okah’s visit was in support of the government’s amnesty, he said “definitely.”
He declined to comment on whether the basis of the talks is just the amnesty and rehabilitation offered by the government or a broader programme – including on oil-revenue sharing – demanded by MEND.
“We will be following up discussions, including the amnesty,” he said. Asked if any agreement had been signed, the lawyer said “not yet.”
Unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta has contributed to the shut down of 1 million barrels a day of crude output, halving Nigeria ‘s oil revenue in the first quarter of this year.