Date Published: 10/23/09

Dear Editor,

Re: N6.5 billion for repentant militants

Chief Ojo Maduekwe, the Minister for External Affairs while briefing the diplomatic corps recently explained that the Federal government under President Umaru Yar’Adua has achieved much, chiefly as it concerns the problem in the Niger Delta where the government has had a successful amnesty programme. Now, the Nigeria economy is less troubled as a result.

He said that the federal government is spending N6.5billion on the repentant militant numbering about 8,000, according to him. Though he did not say how long the N6.5billion would cover but judging from the announced N65,000 monthly package for each registered repentant militant and considering the 8,000 persons involved, it translates that they were going to be  on the stipend for about twelve months. After the period what happens; is the federal government going to continue in perpetuity? What are the plans in place to ensure that the number of persons involved would continue to reduce until fully demobilized and neutralized? Or would the stipend stop automatically for all the number? Answers are needed.

During the visit of Imo stakeholders to President Yar’Adua, Governor Ohakim in company of the PDP leader Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and others had requested that Imo should be included in the amnesty package, reminding the President that the first (foreigner) oil worker that was kidnapped was in Imo State.  What he tried to derive at is what one seems not to understand.  When has it become status symbol that a State would like to be counted among the disturbed? What is in this amnesty package that Ohakim’s request has thrown up?

All the above questions are some of the issues that need be made clear and resolved to public understanding. If in Ohakim’s posturing, kidnapping would warrant some incentive to a State, then please Anambra State should also be included in the amnesty package.

Nnamdi Okafor,

80 Omoba Road,       ABA, Abia State