Govt to offer amnesty to Henry Okah

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.