The initiative is a concept recommended by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta as an alternative to the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.
The AI, which was headed by Soyinka on MEND’s recommendation, met about twice with former President Umaru Yar’Adua before his death in May 2010.
This was just as Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Thursday restated government’s determination to punish the culprits and sponsors of the October 1 twin car bomb blasts in Abuja, which claimed 12 lives.
Also on Thursday, a South African Magistrates’ court in Johannesburg turned down the request of the leader of the MEND, Mr. Henry Okah, for the court to strike out the charge of terrorism against him. The court also adjourned hearing in Okah’s bail application till Friday (today).
THE PUNCH had sent an SMS enquiry to Soyinka, asking about how MEND’s claim of responsibility for the attacks would affect the initiative.
But Soyinka, in a short SMS response on Wednesday, said he withdrew from the peace process before the twin car bombings.
He added that he had since July 2010 warned that he would pull out of the process because of lack of ‘seriousness’ in the negotiations.
Soyinka, however, did not say if the lack of seriousness was on the part of the Federal Government or MEND.
“Even before the Abuja bomb blasts, I had withdrawn from this initiative. I gave warning of this likelihood as far back as July, citing a lack of seriousness.
“I have since sent word that I had taken the decision to pull out,” the playwright said.
MEND which claimed responsibility for the Abuja bombings, has however, continued to flay the amnesty programme. It also said on Wednesday that the programme had failed to address the fundamental issues that caused the crisis in the Niger Delta.
The group’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, who responded to questions from THE PUNCH through an e-mail, said no key MEND members had embraced the amnesty programme.
Gbomo said that only the implementation of the Niger Delta Technical Committee headed by Mr. Ledum Mitee, would resolve the crises in the region.
When asked which of the presidential aspirants would best address the Niger Delta crisis, he said that three of them neglected opportunities to do something concrete about it in the past.
In apparent reference to President Goodluck Jonathan, who is one of the aspirants, Gbomo said, “One has the opportunity now but has done nothing significant.”
But he dismissed the allegation that MEND was bent on destabilising Jonathan’s administration, saying, “We have not done anything different.”
The interview with Gbomo reads in part:
What actually are the grievances of MEND against the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.?
The amnesty programme has not addressed the root issues tat led to the unrest in the first place. It has been hijacked by con men for a money making scheme and has become one big scam.
If key members of MEND have embraced it, why has your faction not embraced it?
No key member of MEND has embraced the amnesty. The only two persons were in the rank of commanders and that is not significant. There are no factions in the group.
In concrete terms, how can the problems be addressed?
It is simple. It first has to be tabled and addressed. The government is even avoiding the Ledum Mitee report and that is clearly an indication they are not willing to address this injustice.
How do you react to an allegation that the October 1 bombing was a betrayal of the Niger Deltans, who you are fighting for?
It was a golden opportunity to highlight the unresolved issues in the region and our objective was achieved.
Meanwhile, Sambo declared government’s determination to apprehend the bombers while receiving members of the national executive of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in his office. Sambo, according to a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Mallam Sani Usara, also said government had acquired tracking equipment for the police and other security agencies, as part of efforts to combat kidnapping in the country.
Sambo described the October 1 bombings as unfortunate, adding, that “Nigerians today are concerned about how do we create wealth, jobs and drive away poverty among our people, while others are fighting against these for their selfish interest.”
He said the tracking equipment and various other operational gadgets acquired by the government for the police, State Security Services and other agencies would soon be unveiled by President Goodluck Jonathan.
He also commended Nigerian journalists for support the government, saying no administration could succeed without working with the media.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and National President of the NUJ, Malam Muhammadu Garba, said they were at the State House to felicitate with the government and people of Nigeria on the nation’s 50th Independence Anniversary. He also condemned the bomb attacks and urged the government and all security agencies to expose the perpetrators.
Okah, who was arrested in Johannesburg last Saturday in connection with the bomb attacks, is facing a two-count charge of engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist activity and delivering, placing and detonating an explosive device.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that when Okah appeared in the court on Thursday, his lawyer, Rudi Klause, urged the court to strike out the case as the prosecution had no written authority to prosecute the case. The request forced Magistrate Hein Louw to adjourn.
However, when the case resumed later on Thursday, the prosecution tendered the certificate to authorise prosecution, and Okah’s lawyer then applied for his bail. The Nigerian government opposed it, insisting that Okah was the mastermind of the October 1 bombings and a leader of MEND.
A letter from Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), was read by prosecution counsel, Mr. Shaun Abrahams. The prosecutor said Nigeria opposed the bail because it believed that Okah, in concert with others, was responsible for the explosions.
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