- Denies ex-militant leader was paid to influence Bayelsa election
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
THE Federal Government has promised a fair deal for the Niger Delta ex-militants in the Amnesty programme, saying the peace in the region should not be toyed with and be sustained by all the stakeholders.
The government also denied that a prominent ex-militant leader (names withheld) got huge amount of money by one of the governorship candidates to influence the re-run governorship election in Bayelsa State.
The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh, denied the allegation yesterday in Port Harcourt.
The Amnesty payment to ex-militants, which was usually made through the banks, was paid directly to them, but now, the bank refused paying them after their last attack when the bank’s facilities were allegedly damaged by some angry ex-militants.
Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, Boroh said: “I am not aware that a major ex-militant leader was paid a huge amount of money by a governorship candidate. What I do know is that this exercise became necessary when the banks refused to pay those captured in the Amnesty programme to make a very credible and tangible arrangement. This exercise is just for this period; immediately after this period, the banking system will continue”.
According to him, “this exercise will continue from the banks because there were some ambiguities. The bankers advised that they will not allow their premises to be used; that the ex-agitators damaged their bank facilities. This exercise will allow for effective biometric verification and to ensure that their names tally with the biometric numbers. This is to ensure credibility and sustainability,” Boroh said.
Boroh noted that the Amnesty programme had sustained peace enjoyed in the region, adding that there were plans to partner other stakeholders to keep the vision of amnesty moving.
“The Amnesty programme is to sustain the peace in Niger Delta. To sustain the peace which ex-agitators have been sustaining. Amnesty programme is to ensure total peace, total security, training for the ex-agitators, empowerment for them, employment, then engagement and later reintegration, to allow for development.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, said since the inception of the Amnesty payment, there had been peace in the region.
“We do not do bunkering anymore. Bunkering destroyed our ecology, our environment. We do not want oil theft or anything that will make the government very angry because we do not want government to question amnesty,” he said.