Amnesty Programme: Ex-militants Threaten Showdown With FG

Ex-militants under the presidential amnesty programme (PAP), on Sunday, vowed to return to the creeks in a renewed campaign against oil and gas facilities, if the presidency implemented the recommendation of the PAP panel.

The ex-militants, who made their position known in Ughelli during a press briefing at Ughelli North local government area of Delta state, maintained that the federal government should be ready for the implications of such actions, if it went ahead with the recommendations.

Self styled Gen. John Government, who spoke on behalf of the ex-militants, said the plot would only succeed when the oil in the Niger Delta region stops flowing, regretting that federal government was yet to measure up to the challenges in the Niger Delta region.

According to him: “The oil belongs to the Niger Delta people, and the amnesty programme helped to calm down our youths. Any attempt to stop the programme is like saying that the beneficiaries should go back to the creeks.”

Government, however, called on governors of the Niger Delta region to speak up on behalf of the region; adding that their predecessors fought hard for the region even in the midst of threat and intimidation.

“The oil they are using to develop the north is from the Niger Delta region. Almost all the oil blocks are allocated to the north, which, in itself, is inching and they are planning to stop the meager benefits to the youths. Stopping the presidential amnesty programme will trigger youths restiveness in the region, and once that happens, the federal government should be ready for the consequences.”

Meanwhile, Delta state deputy governor, Barr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, has said that the state was open to foreign and local investors in the areas of agriculture, solid minerals, oil and gas, science and technology, among others. Otuaro, who spoke to journalists in Ogume at the weekend when he inspected the SEEPCO LNG plant at Ogbakgwu, noted that Okowa led administration had provided the conducive environment for investors.

Otuaro, however, solicited for stronger partnership between the state government, the company and Ogume community, in order to provide conducive environment for the construction of the gas plant without any form of disturbance or crisis; stressing that the state government had institutionalised structures for peace building.

He commended SEEPCO for siting the multi billion naira gas plant in the state, adding that the project was a key to harnessing the rich gas reserves that abound in the state over the years.