Ex-militant Leaders Threaten To Dump Amnesty Deal

Scores of ex-militant leaders under the aegis of Leadership Forum for Peace in Niger Delta yesterday threatened to pull out of the amnesty deal entered into  with the Federal Government over the two months delay in the payment of their allowances, warning that if such payment are not made in three days, they can no longer guarantee the safety of the waterways and creeks of the region.

According to the ex-militant leaders, though the provisions of the amnesty deal entered into with the late President Musa Yardua have not been properly implemented, the long delay in the payment of allowances has created confusion, restlessness and anger among ex-militant youths and leaders in the region.

The ex-militant leaders, numbering 100 and drawn from Edo, Imo, Cross River, Rivers, Akwa- Ibom, Delta and Bayelsa States, warned that the increasing tensed activity of their boys can only be curtailed till Wednesday February 13. “We would not be able to guarantee the actions of our boys if the allowance is not paid before the ultimatum expires.”

Speaking at the end of the meeting of the Ex-militant Generals, General Rueben Wilson said investigations have shown that the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and coordinator of the Amnesty programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku is not responsible for the delay in the payment of allowances, “the National Assembly and the Presidency should be held responsible for any breakdown in Peace in the Niger Delta”.