Ex-militant leaders resolve to support Buhari’s peace initiatives

Ex-militant leaders of phases 2 and 3 had
resolved in Port Harcourt, Rivers, to support
President Muhammadu Buhari’s peace initiatives
for the region.
This decision followed a crucial meeting
between Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty
Programme (PAP), Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd)
and the ex-militant leaders.
According to a statement signed by Ms Stella
Inametti, Media and Communication Dept, PAP,
on Saturday in Abuja, the meeting is aimed at
peace building and conflict resolution among the
groups and the Amnesty office.
The statement quoted Boroh also the Special
Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, as
saying it is imperative for the leaders to meet
regularly with officials of the Amnesty
Programme.
“To share ideas, make observations and proffer
solutions that will bring about peace,
infrastructural change and human capital
development of thousands of the youth captured
in the PAP.
He emphasised that conflict and violence were
no resolutions to crisis.
He tasked the leaders to constantly remind the
ex-agitators in their camps not to breach the
peace in the country.
The presidential aide noted that they should
ensure that the non-violence agreement signed
at Obubra that led to the declaration of Amnesty
in 2009 was upheld.
Boroh urged the leaders to use all channels of
dialogue in solving problems to allow
government’s developmental projects like the
rail construction, modular refineries and the
community pipeline surveillance to take off.
He said that it would be of benefits to the people
and create massive job employment opportunity
for the youth of the region.
The Presidential aide called on the people of the
region and Nigerians to take ownership of
President Buhari’s peace and development
initiatives for the region.
Also, the Special Assistant to the President on
Economic Council, Mr Donald Wokoma, said the
Amnesty office is tasked with the responsibility
of ensuring peace and stability in the region in
collaboration with other agencies.
Wokoma advised the ex-agitatators to take
advantage of opportunities made available by
government to develop themselves and stop
unfounded petitioning of appointees.
The Amnesty Office’s Head of Data Management
Major Bernard Ochoche (Rtd) and Head, Post
Training and Engagement, Major Abdul Mati
(Rtd) had in separate speeches addressed
issues of late payment of stipends to ex-
agitators arising from delay in budget passage.
The Amnesty office has reached out to the
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring
Board(NABDA) to engage 3,200 beneficiaries,
trained in oil and gas related fields.