Date Published: 06/22/09
STATEMENT ON AMNESTY AND COMPREHENSIVE PEACE IN THE NIGER DELTA
UNDEDSS wishes to congratulate those who have taken the politically wise choice of seeking a comprehensive peace in the Niger Delta so that Nigeria can face the great urgency of the moment which is to turn the energies of its government and peoples to nation building and improving the living conditions of all our people.
But we hurry to emphasize that unless the amnesty being proposed is comprehensive (covering every identified militant…free or at large) and the implementation of DDR is pursued with sincerity and deliberate purpose the potential gains of the amnesty initiative could be lost.
UNDEDSS therefore, on behalf of the civil society organizations, the ethnic nationalities, and professional groups of the Niger Delta call on the relevant decision makers to bear January 1970 in mind as the Nigerian Civil War ended with the euphoria of no victor no vanquished which led us to the Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction programmes that earned us the respect of the world.
As indicated in my New year message of goodwill which was published as an Op-Ed piece on January 1 by the Guardian I expected this year to provide the opportunity for comprehensive peace in the Niger Delta and a new lease of life for new growth in the region and much progress around Nigeria.
We must not allow people with narrow views of Law and Order over a great vision of progress to undermine the chance of a comprehensive deal that will provide impetus for progress.
It is my view that only after such progress of a comprehensive all-inclusive amnesty over a reasonable period of time (between 60-90 days minimum), acceptable to all stakeholders, has been put in place should the full military might of the sovereign state should then be invoked on any elements that disrupt plans for sustained economic advance around Nigeria.
Professor Pat Utomi
UNDEDSS President
21/6/09
