The governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, yesterday warned of impending breakdown of law and order in the Niger Delta region, following the backlog of unpaid allowances to ex-militants.
Mr. Amaechi, who spoke through his Commissioner for Budget, Dagogo Jack, at the inauguration of Green Economics Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, in Abuja, alleged that some unnamed top government officials are deliberately frustrating the process.
Mr. Amaechi said the initial gains of the first phase of the exercise are being frittered away due to poor commitment of the officials, whom he stated are hiding under the absence of President Umaru Yar ‘Adua to jettison the programme.
He said the surge in economic activities and the hosting of some international activities in the region are some of the gains of the disarmament of the militants, but regretted that they are being rubbished due to the current poor implementation of the programme.
“The other remote but potent cause for the apathy is the activities of some known desperate politicians who are out to use the amnesty programme to launder their image for both personal and political gains. They have hijacked the process and at the same time presenting themselves to the ex-militants and their erstwhile leaders as their messiah.” The governor recalled a recent protest by some of the ex-militants temporarily accommodated at Aluu, Choba and the University of Port Harcourt communities over unpaid monthly allowances. He said that but for the prompt intervention of his government, the situation would have escalated to other camps in the region.
Mr. Amaechi, frowned at the current revenue allocation formula and canvassed for upward in derivation fund, which he said would mitigate the burden of oil producing states.
Fight climate change
But the Environment Minister, John Odey, who chaired the occasion, disagreed with the governor, insisting that the post-amnesty programme is on course.
The minister also said that the challenge before the panel was onerous as the effects of climate change is already confronting the country.
The chairman of the Board of the organisation and a member of the House of Representatives, Bethel Amadi, said it is the first of the local chapters to be launched in Africa.
He said the organisation is dedicated to conservation of the Abuja environment.
Other members of the board are Eziuche Ubani, Betty Apiafi and Niyi Adelugha, all members of the House of Representatives.