The presidency is ready to offer amnesty to militants including Henry Okah (pictured). Photo: MSN

Govt to offer amnesty to Henry Okah

By Elizabeth Archibong

President Umaru Yar'Adua has directed the chairman of the Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament of Militants in the Niger Delta, Godwin Abbe to immediately arrange a meeting with one of the leaders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Henry Okah currently in detention and formally offer him amnesty.

This was confirmed by the presidential spokesman, Olusegun Adeniyi in Abuja last night. He said since the amnesty was voluntary and could not be done by proxy, it was necessary for Mr. Okah's acceptance to be obtained before the government can proceed with its line of action.

He explained that the diplomatic side of the Mr. Okah's matter would be tidied up as soon as his acceptance of the amnesty was obtained, pointing out that government was expected to finish with that in a couple of days.

Last week MEND and some other militant groups had expressed their reservation on the amnesty offer, describing it as a ploy to round them up for punishment.

This allegation came even after the president and the Presidential Panel on the Amnesty and Disarmament had repeatedly assured them that there were no strings attached to the amnesty and had urged them to take advantage of the offer to reintegrate themselves into the society.

The media coordinator of the Presidential Committee Timiebi Koripamo-Agary had also urged the youth and people of the region to disregard a statement by MEND that the president's amnesty was a Greek gift.

She said that the government had proven its good intentions by not only refusing to criminalize the militants, but also in not using derogatory terms.

"I wish to state that the offer of amnesty is unconditional and covers Henry Okah who will be released as soon as the Federal Government concludes its consultations with the governments of Angola and Equatorial Guinea. This is also in the best interest of Mr. Henry Okah.

"Militants and the Niger Delta youths know what is good for them and their communities and I believe they will make the right decisions for themselves and the progress and development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria.

"I think aside the amnesty proclamation by Mr. President, the fact that he is willing to personally receive any militants that surrenders demonstrates how willing and sincere the president is in ending this crisis," she said.

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Reader Comments (7)

Posted by Pere on Jul 01 2009

Yar'Adua/PDP has no trump card left. MEND will change the history of ND. MOPOL/Police/Military brutality and opression is out for public open discussion and debate. ND demands respect. We have been silent too long for fear of assassination. God will help MEND to change that. Our politicians are challenged to be bold to speak for the people of ND and Nigeria.

Posted by Say on Jul 01 2009

Amnesty or no amnesty, MEND please don't stop at that. ND needs autonomy then anything the rest of Nigeria wants from ND area should be negotiated for on a respectable, mutual basis.

Posted by Dewey on Jul 01 2009

No respect for a band of lazy ignoramous idiots. SOutherners should work and construct instead of destroying.

Posted by Edet on Jul 01 2009

We need sincerity, justice and fairplay without which there can be no peace. Let us stop all the deceptions and get serious in solving this injustice to the region.

Posted by doyin13 on Jul 01 2009

Part of me is repulsed by all the destruction these militants have wrought on their society, but is it any worse than the criminal negligence of the FG towards the Niger Delta. They should be a timetable for the full return of control of these resources to the people of the Delta. I am sure such a move might give the politically motivated militant food for thought.

Posted by oyeyiola joel a. on Jul 01 2009

Iexpect the federal government to beg for amnesty and not downtroden masses of niger/delter who have suffer agelong deprivation,marginalization,killing,harrasment and whole lot of inhuman treatment. Let it be noted that this amnesty is not predicated on good inention ,a good amnesty on must start with sincere apology from the government and people of Nigeria with an unconditional massive developmental project in the area.

Posted by boma dele on Jul 02 2009

The word amnesty for the deplorable situation in the ND is a misnomer. The framework for the supposedly amnesty offered by the Yaradua's govt is too bare and a fluke because the necessary pllars that will the sustained the process has been ignored.