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In Abuja To Protest, Militants Get a Hearing
From Paul Ibe, Kingsley Nwezeh and Yemi Akinsuyi in Abuja
Post-Amnesty
Former Niger Delta militants stormed Abuja yesterday in about 14 buses, demanding to be included in the Federal Government Amnesty Programme.
As they protested, security operatives moved in to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
But the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Mr. Timi Alaibe said the ex-militants who did not meet the October 4, 2009, deadline to turn in their arms and be documented, may yet be admitted into the programme if a waiver to this effect is granted by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua had on June 25, 2009 proclaimed an unconditional amnesty for Niger Delta militants who agreed to lay down their arms and report to screening centres within 60 days.
As at the October 4, 2009 deadline, 20,192 repentant militants were documented. The first batch of 2,000 is currently at Obubra Camp in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, undergoing training.
A statement from Alaibe's office signed by Mr. Henry Ugbolue said it had become expedient to make some clarifications "in view of the protest in Abuja today by persons said to be Niger Delta ex-militants who were excluded from the Presidential Amnesty Programme."
Alaibe disclosed that a number of militant groups who did not disarm during the amnesty period came forward and indicated interest to submit their weapons to security agencies and be included in the post-amnesty programme.
He said most of the militants then cited scepticism and the sincerity of the Federal Government to follow through the amnesty programme.
However, he said when it became obvious the documented ex-militants were collecting steady monthly allowances and are now being admitted into camp for transformational training and rehabilitation, these militants who did not meet the deadline decided to come forward and submit their weapons.
Alaibe stated that a number of these new converts turned in their arms to the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) between December 31, 2009 and April 21, 2010. He said yesterday's agitation and its likely consequences were promptly brought to the attention of all the critical stakeholders in the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
He said that in May this year, the JTF formally informed the Federal Government of the documentation of a second batch of ex-militants who did not meet the October 4, 2009 threshold for disarming and reporting to centres for documentation.
"In May 5, 2010, the JTF formally forwarded to the Federal Government documents that indicated that between December 31, 2009 and April 26, 2010, a number of militant groups in Bayelsa, Delta and Edo States submitted weapons of various caliber to the JTF and also submitted lists containing names they want documented and included in the post amnesty programme," he said.
He, however, noted that the "decision to include these fresh names in the Federal Government's list of documented ex-militants is not within the powers of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta."
He urged the agitators to remain calm and await the outcome of the representation to the President on their behalf by his officer.
He emphasised that yesterday's protest in Abuja had "absolutely nothing to do with the on-going transformational programme for the Niger Delta Ex-Militants in Obubra, Cross River State."
He disclosed that the first batch of 2,000 repentant militants had successfully gone through non-violence transformational training in the Obubra Camp and by the weekend "a battery of experts would have taken them through other programmes that are designed to prepare them for formal reintegration into the civil society."
About 100 alleged ex-militants stormed Abuja in the early hours of yesterday disrupting activities and snarling traffic for more than six hours along the Gwagwalada axis of the Abuja/Lokoja Highway, through the Airport Road and the Central Area linking the Eagle Square.
The ex-militants, who came in eight Toyota Coaster (18-seater) buses and six 10-seater Toyota Hiace buses, broke into two groups. While the other group remained in Gwagwalada and held up traffic that stretched from Gwagwalada town to Giri Junction linking the Airport Road, the other group proceeded to Eagle Square where they massed and started chanting war songs.
Hordes of security operatives from the Nigeria Police, State Security Service (SSS) and officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser swiftly stormed the scene while another detachment of riot policemen and plain clothes security operatives moved to Gwagwalada to contain the situation.
The security apparatchik was led by Deputy Inspector Generals of Police, Uba Ringim and Israel Ajao, AIG Ivy Okoronkwo and heads of the SSS who directed proceedings at the Eagle Square.
Over 100 policemen and security operatives surrounded the Eagle Square while check points were mounted along the Airport Road and Giri Junction in a bid to avert a breakdown of law and order.
One of the leaders of the ex-militants, Paul Boyo, said they were protesting the non-inclusion of their members in the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.
"We are ex-militants, we have surrendered our arms but we have not been documented. We are not part of the amnesty programme. The implementation of the programme is not in order. We are not getting paid and that pay (N65,000) is even too small. We are here to tell them that they have to document us if they are serious," he said.
The protest attracted the Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomhe and the Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Waziri to the scene of the protest.
Oghiadohme and Waziri assured the militants that the matter would be addressed next week.
The ex-militants were later seen dragging Ghana-Must-Go bags to their vehicles.
They were later provided escort with blaring siren in a long convoy through the Central Area, Airport Road until they met their counterparts in Gwagwalada where they were further escorted out of the city.
A THISDAY correspondent at the scene of the protest reports that following alerts the police and security agencies used armoured tanks to block the Gwagwalada Bridge that links Zuba-Lokoja Road as early as about 5.47am.
By about 9.43am when THISDAY finally got to the WAZOBIA Restaurant junction, where the ex-militants had used four Hummer SUVs to block the entire road, a heavy traffic had built up preventing commuters from the Eastern, South-western and Northern parts of the country from getting into the nation's capital while other passengers and workers could not get to their offices. Traffic was static as vehicles coming from both directions were forced to remain on the road, while some passengers alighted from their vehicles and trekked for long distances to nearby destinations.
The traffic congestion began at about 5.43am and did not abate, until around 2.03 pm when AIG Okoronkwo in convoy with other top officers and the SSS arrived the scene at about 12.23 am.
The ex-militants who gathered at Students' Village, Gwagwalada, Abuja-Lokoja Road, were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions such as "Amnesty second is Here," "We'll go back to Creeks" and Enough is enough," among others.
Leader of the ex-militants, Aso Tambo, who spoke on behalf of his group said their mission was to see President Goodluck Jonathan, on the second batch of ex-militants who had not been documented.
A passenger caught up in the traffic snarl, Johnson Macdonald, said he was travelling from Lagos to Kano, when he got stuck in the traffic for over eight hours.
Another passenger, Mr. Chimere Obikpe, a trader at Nyanya Market, said he was travelling from Onitsha to Abuja, when he ran into the traffic snarl. He urged government to settle any grievances with the militants instead of allowing their activities to bring untold hardship to commuters.
The Presidential Amnesty Committee then under the former Defence Minister, Major-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), registered and properly documented 20,192 repentant Niger Delta militants. The Federal Government then designed and budgeted for the 20,192 ex-militants in the on-going Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) component of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Source: This Day, 8th July 2010.
Ex-militants Storm Abuja
By Yusuf Alli and Dele Anofi
Many passengers were stranded for hours Wednesday on the ever-busy Lokoja-Abuja road, which was blocked by protesting ex-militants.
But the Special Adviser (Amnesty) to President Goodluck Jonathan, Timi Alaibe, said the protest had nothing to do with the ongoing transformational programme for ex-militants.
He said those involved in the protest were ex-militants awaiting presidential waiver for documentation after laying down their arms between December 31, 2009 and April 26, 2010. The government Wednesday directed that the protesters be registered.
The protesters blocked the road early in the day between Abaji and Gwagwalada, the main entry and exit points.
Hundreds of passengers coming and going out of the Federal Capital Territory were trapped in the gridlock.
Although the ex-militants did not attack anyone, their weird looks forced many motorists to keep some distance away from their barricades.
According to a commuter, who sent a distress call to The Nation, the ex-militants were saying: "Tell the government to rehabilitate and reintegrate us too. We have laid down arms but they have not done anything.
"They are saying that we should not go back to the creeks, but they are not providing us allowances.
"We will not stop blocking highways, until we are also paid allowances like others."
It was learnt that upon receiving distress calls, the Presidency asked security agencies to intervene in a civil manner to open up the highways.
Another commuter said: "The blockade left many children wailing because it was difficult getting food and water. We all thought that we were in a war situation."
A passenger, Mr. Gregory Nwachukwu, said: "Upon sighting the militants, some of us ran into the bush and we had to trek for hours till we were able to link up with the highway later."
A source added: "We persuaded them to open up dialogue with the government rather than self-help.
"They reasoned with us and we decided to clear the barricades without force. The government has started talking to them."
Following the deployment of security agents to the highway, it was opened to traffic at about 2pm.
In a statement, Alaibe said a presidential waiver was being awaited to accommodate the protesting ex-militants who surrendered after the amnesty deadline given by the Federal Government.
Alaibe, in the statement by his media aide, Mr. Henry Ugbolue, said: "In view of the protest in Abuja today by persons said to be Niger Delta ex-militants who were excluded from the Presidential Amnesty Programme, it has become expedient to clarify as follows:
"That in the bid to stem the ugly tide of militancy and general insecurity in the Niger Delta, late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua proclaimed on 25th June 2009 an unconditional amnesty for militants in the Niger Delta who agree to lay down their arms and assemble at screening centres within 60 days for documentation.
"This offer of amnesty was unequivocally predicated on the willingness and readiness of the militants to give up all illegal arms in their possession, completely renounce militancy in all its ramifications, and depose an undertaking to this effect. As most Nigerians would recall, thousands of repentant militants operating in the Niger Delta enthusiastically accepted this offer of amnesty and turned in their arms and got documented on or before the October 4th 2009 earmarked deadline.
"The Presidential Amnesty Committee then under the former Defence Minister, Major-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), registered and properly documented 20,192 repentant Niger Delta Militants. It was on the basis of this number (20,192) that the Federal Government designed and budgeted for the on-going Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) component of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
"Indeed, it gives me immense pleasure to aver here that the first batch of 2,000 repentant militants has successfully gone through non-violence transformational training in the Obubra Camp in Cross River State , and by the weekend, a battery of experts would have taken them through other programmes that are designed to prepare them for formal reintegration into the civil society.
"Let it however be placed on record that Mr.Alaibe is aware that a number of militant groups that did not disarm during the amnesty period came forward and indicated interest to submit their weapons to security agencies and be included in the post-amnesty programme.
"To this effect, many of them turned in their arms to the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) between December 31, 2009 and April 21, 2010. This agitation and the likely consequences were promptly brought to the attention of all the critical stake-holders in the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
"On May 5, 2010, the JTF formally forwarded to the Federal Government documents that indicated that between December 31, 2009 and April 26, 2010, a number of militant groups in Bayelsa, Delta and Edo states submitted weapons of various calibers to the JTF and also submitted lists containing names they want documented and included in the post amnesty programme."
Minister of State Niger Delta Affairs Samuel Ode said the challenges encountered in the payment of allowances to the militants came from the demands of due process. He stressed that time is needed to sort things out.
He said: "At the level of the ministry, we are concerned about the situation because any matter arising from the Niger Delta region is our primary responsibility to be concerned about it. On our own, we are not also resting on our efforts to see to the plight of the ex-militants and non-militants as well.
"I think it is a matter of necessity to give Mr. President the benefit of doubt. He is pursuing the amnesty deal with a lot of zeal and commitment; coming from that region, I know, that he is aware of the expectations. I know as a matter of fact that Mr. Alaibe has been working tirelessly towards the success of the post-amnesty deal.
"I believe the only way we can go about this post-amnesty programme is to do it peacefully. And, of course, their are processes for applying for registration of the ex-militants. I think we must explore those avenues rather than resorting to mass protest.
"In the same vein, I sympathise with the ex-militants. I think it is important we must take step to register those who were genuinely disengaged from militancy. The earlier we do that the better for us, but that can only take place in the atmosphere of peace.
"I must emphasise that the president is more than ever willing to attend to issues affecting ex-militants in the region".
Ode faulted the ex-militants' demand for the removal of Alaibe, saying, "Well, I think the removal of Alaibe is not the solution to the problem."
Source: The Nation, 8th July 2010.
Ex-militants Praise Amnesty Training Programme
FROM ANIETIE AKPAN, CALABA
AFTER initial hiccups, ex-militants undergoing amnesty training programme at the Obubra camp in Cross River State, have settled down for lectures.
Many of them on Monday said the training programme was the best thing that has ever happened to them. They however appealed to the Federal Government to keep faith with the amnesty package by giving them further training abroad.
The ex-militants, who were busy singing religious songs while others were finalising their documentation, said any attempt to truncate the amnesty programme would send them back to the creeks.
The head of the expatriate training team and Chairman of the Global Non Violence Board and Senior Fellow of Emory University, Atlanta, United States, Dr. Bernard Lafayette, said with what is going on at the Obubra camp, "Nigeria is going to show the world how to come together and rather than use their arms to hold weapons, they are going to use their arms to embrace each other.
"Some of those who were causing disturbances came to us and said they were ready to pass the exams. We thought it was not going to be possible, but in just two hours, they had learnt everything. I could not believe it. We grilled them, we asked them questions and they answered very well. Nigerians are really smart. This is why I spend my time here as an investment to humanity and I predict that Nigeria would be the model and example for the UN to apply this approach to countries in conflict all over the world.
"Those who are going to help with the training would be Nigerians. We have Nigerians who would help us do the training. Seventy ex-militants have been hired now. They are working. We have 140 Nigerians who are in other professions working here too."
Source: The Guardian, 7th July 2010.
Jonathan: N'Delta Roads'll Be Rehabilitated
From Sufuyan Ojeifo in Abuja
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday promised that the Federal Government would rehabilitate existing
roads in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at an audience with a delegation of Cross River State leaders, traditional rulers and elders led by Governor Liyel Imoke, Jonathan stated that new highways would be opened up in the region to bolster its rapid development.
He said that demands for the improvement of the transportation networks in the region were genuine and legitimate, assuring that they would receive due consideration from the Federal Government.
Jonathan spoke in response to requests by the delegation, which was contained in an address presented by former Foreign Affairs Minister and current leader of the South-South Peoples Assembly, Chief Mathew Mbu.
The President said that funds would be provided in the 2011 Federal Budget for the extension of the East-West Road to Calabar, which is currently designed to terminate in Akwa Ibom State.
He assured that all other issues raised by the delegation, including increased support for the resettlement of Nigerians displaced from the Bakassi Peninsula, Federal support for the development of Cross River State's tourism potentials, dredging of the Calabar Channel and refunds to the Cross River State Government of expenditure on the maintenance of Federal Roads, would receive the Federal Government's necessary attention.
The President said he appreciated the support which the delegation pledged for his administration, pointing out that it would serve as tonic "to carry forward the enormous task of setting the country firmly on the path to sustainable growth and rapid development."
Mbu had, earlier in his address, said the delegation believed that the bold steps already taken by Jonathan steering the ship iof the nation were "a reflection of his deep sense of purpose and thorough understanding of the country's problems."
He extolled the president's commitment to giving Nigeria a new lease of life, saying that his "dedication to free, fair and credible elections in 2011 is a welcome indication that Nigeria is on the right path to good governance and the consolidation of democracy."
Source: This Day, 7th July 2010.
Jonathan Pledges Better Deal for N'Delta
FROM MADU ONUORAH, ABUJA
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday pledged that his administration would do all it can to rehabilitate existing roads and initiate action on new highways in order to open up the Niger Delta region for rapid development.
President Jonathan told a delegation of Cross River State leaders, traditional rulers and elders led by Governor Liyel Imoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that demands for the improvement of the transportation networks in the region were genuine and legitimate, and will, therefore, receive due consideration from the Federal Government.
Responding to requests made by the delegation in an address presented by former Foreign Affairs Minister and current leader of the South-South Peoples Assembly, Chief Mathew Mbu, the President said that funds would be provided in the 2011 budget for the extension of the East-West Road to Calabar.
The road is currently designed to terminate in Akwa Ibom State.
He said that all other issues raised by the delegation, including increased support for the resettlement of Nigerians displaced from the Bakassi Peninsula, Federal support for the development of Cross River State's tourism potentials, dredging of the Calabar Channel and refunds to the Cross River State Government of expenditure on the maintenance of federal roads, would receive necessary attention.
Mbu had said in his address that the delegation believed that the bold steps already taken by Jonathan in his leadership of the nation were a reflection of his deep sense of purpose and thorough understanding of the country's problems.
He praised the president's commitment to giving Nigeria a new lease of life, saying that his dedication to free, fair and credible elections in 2011 was a welcome indication that Nigeria was on the right path to good governance and the consolidation of democracy.
Source: The Guardian, 7th July 2010.
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