Asari Dokubo says the amnesty offer was not necessary in the first place. Photo: NEXT

Asari Dokubo sues government over amnesty

By Elizabeth Archibong

The Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force on Monday sued the Federal Government at an Abuja High Court over the recently concluded amnesty programme.

The group, headed by former militant leader, Asari Dokubo, claims that the Federal Government does not have the power to grant pardons to militants who have done nothing wrong.

The three-month amnesty plan ended last Sunday, with the large catchment of arms surrendered by militant groups in Ondo, Delta, and Cross River States.

The Federal Government has consistently warned that it would not extend the time-frame for the programme.

The defence minister, Godwin Abbe, said while accepting Government Ekumokpolo's surrender in Warri that the federal government will "deal ruthlessly" with anyone found with arms after the expiration of the deadline.

The Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, according to its lawyer, Festus Keyamo, however, said it saw no reason to join the government's amnesty plan. He told journalists in Abuja that the amnesty deal was a calculated plot to divert attention from the region's under-development and right to self-determination.

"They [the volunteer force] are saying: ‘Give us our resources to control, you have no right to control our resources on our behalf and no amount of intimidation or amnesty can make us lose focus of that fact'," he said.

Mr. Dokuko has always spoken against the amnesty programme, which he said was an insult to the Niger Delta people. "Amnesty means ‘We forgive you', but there is nothing to forgive here if you are fighting for the self-determination of your people," Mr. Keyamo said.

Circle of violence

According to the group, the amnesty plan was a means to cow people in the Niger Delta into submission by the federal government.

Mr. Dokubo was himself part of an earlier amnesty plan. In 2004, the federal government headed by then president Olusegun Obasanjo persuaded Mr. Dokubo and Ateke Tom to hand over their weapons in exchange for amnesty.

Months later, the deal unravelled after the militant groups started fighting one another. Mr. Dokubo was later arrested and charged with treason, though he was subsequently released. Some of the disgruntled members of the group later coalesced into the Movement for the emancipation of the Niger Delta- which has fought a vicious battle in the region.

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Reader Comments (10)

Posted by omote okotie on Oct 06 2009

president Umaru musa yar'Adua is not sinsere about the niger delta development, he use amnesty as a plot to deceive the people to uplift the oil revenue,and to use the militant as security to guild the oil wellhead.the president should start the amnesty programme with the governors, ministers, senators, house of assemly members, all government office holder becuase they are thieves and criminals. the amnesty programme is ment for this gruops of politicians to repent from thier sin and use the money ment for development judiciously in the niger delta. Also the president seven piont agender have no meaning since his cabinent are failures of governors made from the previous adminisration, who loot nigeria money and yet have no single project during thier time in office. why deceiving ourself, God have mercy.

Posted by Sumayya on Oct 06 2009

Asari, I salute u... a word they say is enough for the wise! Let the proper thing be done instead of playing around with people's intellect... I was wondering when anyone will see through the plan, am glad I was not wrong...

Posted by igwe czar on Oct 06 2009

Asari should give peace a chance, he has contributed nothing to Niger delta rather than choas and blood shed, we need to move beyond that. he cannot continue to hide under guise of freedom fighting when we all know he was into oil bunkering. He will never be a Ken Saro Wiwa or Adaka gboro these men werwe true sons of the delta and not criminals masquerading as freedom fighters.

Posted by Beauty Eze on Oct 06 2009

I think Alh. Asari should accept the amnesty and see what FG will do after them. He (FG) promised to rehabilitate the Ex-millitant, so let's see what will happen. Asari should allow peace to reign. We are tired of militancy in Nigeria!

Posted by Obinna Cedric on Oct 08 2009

The FG should be sincere and address the problems which led to militancy in the Niger Delta instead of the amnesty which I think is a smoke screen. I really see the offer of amnesty as an insult to the ND people, a sign of weakness or cowardice on the part of the FG and a stark betrayal from any militant who accepts or accepted it. Is the fight for rehabilitation of some less privileged people? Is it for some personal or selfish gains? Is it criminal to fight oppression and abuse? If so called ex-militants are now compensated, what happens to the land and people they claim to have been fighting for? Should new ones emerge and wait for their own turn? Or should the everyone accept the amnesty and let the ND remain in exploitative desolation? I think the ND people should now know who is truly for them and who is a selfish schemer claiming to fight for them. I sincerely advocate peace but the amnesty is not a solution and instead of peace in the ND, it would only make matters worse because the real, sincere freedom fighter now have inhouse enemies. That means the scope of the fight just got broadened by the amnesty. Let the FG get sincere... let it acknowledge the problem and face it squarely. The Govt. knows what will work in the ND but the would not do it because they DO NOT care for the nation, unity, peace and for the general good the people. I respect those who ignored the amnesty and I sincerely hope they stand their grounds until a real solution comes up. They should just not harm ANYONE but if they can otherwise bring Nigeria to a stand still until the Govt repents, I give them kudos. Long live Nigeria and may peace and truth be enshrined.

Posted by Obinna Cedric on Oct 08 2009

I forgot to add that you only offer amnesty to an outlaw. Imagine a robber coming to your house at night, you raise an alarm and make efforts to combat him and then he offers amnesty. Amnesty in what sense? Ok, I should turn off the alarm, drop my weapons and then in exchange the robber would not kill me but only steal as much as he pleases from my house. I don't understand where amnesty comes in the whole saga. Please Nigerians let's use our heads. We are all taken hostage by the current breed of politicians in this nation. God help us.

Posted by odoko on Oct 08 2009

Asari, Kudos! i strongly support your stands. However, lets give Baba goslow a trial.

Posted by ter makar on Oct 08 2009

i wouldn't know if the federal government is sincere about the amnesty issue or not but i am very certain asari dokubo is not the freedom fighter he wants us to believe he is. the federal government should take decisive actions against all militant who are found with arms after the expiration of the amnesty period and expedite action develpoment of the niger delta so as to achieve lasting peace in the region

Posted by rev edoror on Oct 11 2009

Asari is a fraud deceiving people. we have suffered enough in the hands of these so called freedom fighters. Asari is a thief whose business will end with the end of hostilities

Posted by Emmy on Oct 12 2009

These militia men all claim 2b soldiers of d ND people wen dey enrich their pockets leaving d poor citizens of dis delta in chaos n fear.The FG too has its own fault too 4 havin inherited d 'blind eyes,deaf ears' syndrom 4rm previous admin. But now dat the govt (though we cant fully trust them) ar showin a little bit of concern i think we should giv dem a chance n c wat coms out.peace is d 1st step 2 developmnt.war in dis region wil only make ppl leave their homes as refugees.i dnt bliv in dis 'rambo' style of agitation. Real leaders wud folow d ways of Ghandi,Mandela, MLk. Let's not 4get dat evry second we ar writing our history and our justification shal b in d judgement of d nxt generation.