Date Published: 09/14/09
Amnesty Burden and Security Upheaval By Tony-Anthony John
“An Unjust Law is itself a species of violence. Arrest for its breach is more so. ” Mahatma Gandhi
Before I decided to come up with this write-up, I have been worried with the space if insecurity in the country. When I finally made up my mind on what to write, I was confused on what caption to cast. I have all the long had in my mind- a country without security, to describe how the state of security is. At last, the earlier stated caption was conceived; following the current issue in the Nigerian society, and of course, the world.
Prior to the proclamation of Amnesty on June 25, 2009, by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, many well-meaning Nigerians have clamoured for it. They had believed that with amnesty in place, the crises-prone Niger Delta region would be pacified with development, though this did not, and still, does not go without some elements of skepticism by members of the public, the Nigerian government has been commended for taking this bold step top throw “olive tree” to the Niger Delta agitators who regard themselves as “freedom fighters’ while, the government and larger society have used some derogatory names like “militants “criminals” and “cult boys” on them.
Since early August when some of these perceived militants expressed willingness to disarm, there have been some expositions of what members of the public did not know. After August 8, 2009, when Bayelsa State section of the militants embraced amnesty and disarmament, it downed on me that what have been going on in the Niger Delta creeks are far from what I thought was happening. It has made me to ask; are our security operatives really sincere to Nigerians? Or, do they have special interests on whom to protect at the expense of the people?
With the cache of arms and ammunition I saw in the television displayed at the venue where the Bayelsa State government had a live coverage of the disarmament programme, it became obvious that Nigeria is sitting on a gun power.. Apart from the alleged statement from some quarters that it was a make-belief from the government to capture the attention of members of the public, it portends a serious danger in the eyes of the people. My question since that day is that, if only militants in the Bayelsa State could have such weapons of mass destruction in their armoury, how would the weapons of the entire militants in the Niger Delta region put together look like?
Since that day, I felt disappointed and lost trust in the security ofNigeria by the government. The disturbing questions are: from where did all these weapons come from and who and who were behind the proliferation of all these weapons? Did they mysteriously enter the hands of all these boys without passing through the eagle eyes of the Nigerian security? It would not be out of place to say that there had been serious mutual business relationship involving Nigerian security authorities, government and the countries where these weapons were imported from, to have smooth sailing into the camps of these boys unhindered.
From the language of these brave boys who had made the government and their sponsors know that enough was enough of all their evil deeds, it showed that government and some personalities in positions of power in the country had been dilly-dallying with them for a very long time. The government in its deceitful manner has always made members of the public believe that it knew nothing about the activities of the so-called militants. Severally, it had been alleged that the boys worked for some politicians and some are still working for them.
This allegation seems to confirm what the people had since upheld, by the recent protest in Bayelsa State by the repentant militants who paralysed business activities in Yenegoa, the state capital. The secretary of the Bayelsa State Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Ben Sekeleye, accused politicians in the state of infiltrating the rank and file of the militants to stage the protest. I quote; “it is a deliberate attempt by some politicians outside the state to swear the good work of the Bayelsa Government. The politicians have infiltrated the midst of the boys.” If a government official could make this allegation public, and nothing is done to tackle the evil, probably means that the government sees such politicians as “untouchable”.
The question people have asked is; why did government wait too long before coming up with amnesty? Well, the amnesty project is in place and I must not fail to commend President Yar’Adua and specifically Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, whom I may say, his position has attracted this government’s amnesty disposition to the Niger Delta region. Now that the amnesty process is in course, what is the next step to its actualization and sustainability?
High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has told President Yar’Adua that “the ball is in his hands.” Shortly after the disarmament by some of his colleagues in the struggle, it was widely reported in the newspapers that Tompolo, who was on a wanted list of the government, after the Gbaramatu Kingdom massacre by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), was ready to embrace amnesty. While federal government was about rejoicing that the powerful Tompolo, the Ibe Ebidouwei of Ijawland, is now showing interest, on August 24, 2009, he sent an open letter to Yar’Adua on the Niger Delta.
In that letter, he categorically made his position clear to whosoever that is interested in the amnesty, particularly Yar’Adua, on his unwillingness, unless the federal government goes to the drawing board. He said; “Till today (August 24, 2009), I do not plan nor envisage a return to the artificial cities of Warri, Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja, with your response trend to our struggle.” As government may want members of the public to believe, that it does not know the operational bases of these boys, Tompolo in the said letter, reminded the President that, on resumption of office, MEND and the Niger Deltans had extended hands of fellowship to his government with a unilateral ceasefire.
He also reminded him that: “On 29 th June, 2007, your Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, visited regional agitators in Camp 5 with a message of peace and a process was agreed. Therefrom, I have spoken with the lowly and highly placed in your including yourself, emphasizing on the cardinal demands of our people. No armed confrontation or skirmishes had occurred between agitators and the Joint Task Force until 13 May, 2009, amidst the traditional festival of the people of Gbaramatu. Who is really deceiving?”
Apart from this his bitterness, he said that collectively, “we view the gesture as offer from nothing but it can be something with mutual sincerity and great will.” While Tompolo leaves the ball in the hands of Yar’Adua, he warns that October 4, 2004, (being government’s dateline for the amnesty) will tell.
The Niger Delta Coalition Against Violent, NDCAV, an NGO, has repeatedly preached the message of non-violence in both the electronic and print media, seeing sincere dialogue on the side of the government, as the only panacea to all the problems in the crises-prone Niger Delta region. The president of the NGO, Lekia Bariledum Christian, besides being optimistic that arms struggling are not the solution to any agitation anywhere in the world, said that the current amnesty to militants in Nigeria would be marred by the fear of the unknown, if the repentant militants could not trust the government. As this body rightly and promptly noted concerning the September 15 threat issued by MEND and the FG’s October 4, dateline for arms submission, any further hostility would be too devastating. Therefore, I share the concern of this body that it is high time bloodshed in the Niger Delta is stopped to pave way for development to thrive.
Transparency is what the government should demonstrate in tackling amnesty burdens and security upheaval in the society. It would be proper to cry out very loud now, because the signals manifesting after the disarmament by some militants, are frightening. One of the former militant leaders in Bayelsa State, Joshua Macaiver, who claimed that he had no fewer than 250 boys, including 20 graduates in his camp, while speaking during the live disarmament ceremony in Yenagoa, has warned the government that any mistake would lead to “giving birth to a new baby”. He ended his speech with, “it is not a threat.” This complemented Tompolo’s last statement in his letter toYar’Adua that the ball was in his hands and October 4, 2009, would tell.
Before the protest by the militants in Bayelsa State, they had been complaining of unfavorable conditions they were seeing themselves gradually moving into. One of the major things they complained of was non-payment of their allowances. Also, they condemned their poor feeding and accommodation conditions. The greatest and regrettable mistake the government will make is if it plays politics in handing all that have to do with the amnesty. Fairness should override guided interests.
In addition, it has been reported that militant groups have surfaced in Abia and Imo States. There could be yet-to-be identified militant groups who are waiting to see which direction the government will be going with the repentant militants. The dice is cast.
Tony-Anthony John
07038493735
rosanconnection@yahoo.com
