Date Published: 10/07/09
Rt. Hon Nwuche commends FG/Militants on Amnesty
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Prince Chibudom Nwuche has commended the Federal Government for granting amnesty to Niger Delta militants and also commended the militants for accepting the amnesty thereby ushering peace into the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole.
Hon. Nwuche, who was reacting to the recent successful conclusion of the amnesty programme further praised President Umaru Musa Yar’adua for “indeed being a father of the nation in the way and manner he handled the matter”.
He however, urged the Federal Government to see the amnesty and what it has accomplished as a window of opportunity to really address the injustices done to Niger Delta people through consistent neglect by past governments. “It is ironical that the Niger Delta region, despite the fact that they produce the bulk of the nation’s wealth have remained the most under-developed, with its people impoverished and the youths disillusioned”, he lamented.
The former lawmaker also decried the fact that Niger Deltans are not involved in any significant manner in the activities and processes regarding the exploration and exploitation of oil that is produced from their soil, pointing out that this anomaly needs to be holistically addressed during this post amnesty period. He however, expressed optimism that President Yar’adua who by nature, is a man of his words, would promptly address these challenges as well as the issues of absence of physical infrastructure, youth empowerment, opening up of the oil sector and a real stake for oil producing communities.
Hon. Nwuche further commended the militants for showing maturity and listening to the elders’ plea to lay down their arms and embrace the amnesty programme. He also urged the elders in the region to intensify dialogue with the government to ensure that the promises made to the youth and the region with respect to the amnesty are kept.
