Date Published: 10/07/09

MEND Chief to Yar'Adua: Why we laid down arms

ONE of the chiefs of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Farah Dagogo, generally believed to have embraced President Umaru Yar'Adua's administration's amnesty on Tuesday in an on-line statement to WatchdogRepiorters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said they gave conditions for laying down their arms and ammunition.

According to him, ''as the Overall Field Commander for MEND and with the other field commanders in Rivers state, hereby state that the Presidential offer of amnesty to militants who lay down their weapons in line with conditions attached to this amnesty offer, we are surrendering all weapons under our direct control''.

For him, ''we are accepting this amnesty with the hope that it will usher in a true spirit of reconciliation exemplified by dialogue and federal presence with an aim to addressing the root cause of militancy in the Niger Delta.

''As we signify our willingness to put to test the governments preparedness to address the problems of the people of the Niger Delta, I appeal to those still determined to fight on, to consider first the option of dialogue''.

Continuing, he said, ''in the same vein, it is my sincere desire that the government immediately embarks on dialogue to forestall a resurgence of violence in the Niger Delta.

''There are still thousands of people willing to continue fighting in the creeks and only the actions of the government can win over our brothers still bent on fighting.

''As soldiers, we are not competent to dialogue with the federal government on these serious issues affecting the region.

''We wish our brothers and sisters  who we hope will commence with the intellectual struggle for justice in the Niger Delta, the very best and pray for a just and peaceful Niger Delta''.