Tension is once again rising in the restive Niger Delta region as
ex-warlords under the Abuja Amnesty Programme have made a case for the
payment of the backlog of their stipends running into three months.
Leader of the third phase of the amnesty scheme, Ramsey Mukoro, said that
his group had not been paid for the past three months, thus making life
unbearable for them especially under the present economic crunch.
The Chairman of the second phase in Bayelsa, Mr Ebina Salvation, warned
the federal government not take the fragile peace in the region for
granted, as protests from them could endanger the peace.
He, therefore, pleaded with the government to release adequate funds to
the Amnesty Office for effective implementation of the programme.
He also urged the Federal Government to go back to the blueprint of the
amnesty programme and implement its content by interfacing with the
Coordinator of the scheme, retired Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh and the
ex-agitators.
Salvation patted the leadership of Boroh on the back for doing a great
job, stating that his office should not be blamed for the delay in the
payment of their stipends.
“We, therefore, describe the allegations of the faction as false,
baseless, mischievous and wicked. “The allegations lack substance and
should be thrown to the dustbin of history by all right thinking persons.
“We, therefore, urge members of the group to discountenance, Stephen
Ebisintei’s, display of falsehood which is a figment of his imagination
and that of his co-travelers,” he said.
He restated that the apex bank Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was not
Amnesty Phase 2 Office but bank accountable and rendering services to all
Nigerians, both nationally and internationally.
He, therefore, called on the security agents to be alert, urging them to
find out from amnesty office the recognised leadership of the Phase to
enable them to stop people using the name to issue unnecessary treats and
publications.
“That is the only way to hold people responsible if anything happens. Our
leadership is enlightened, reasonable, law abiding and has respect for
elders and the government,” he said.
Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, Liaison Officer at the Bayelsa Office of the Amnesty
Officer, declined comments when contacted by pressmen for reaction on the
outstanding stipends.
