Hundreds of women identified as mothers of beneficiaries of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme yesterday protested the dismissal of 13 ex-militants being trained as pilots by Lufthansa over non-payment of the required fees by the Federal Government.
The aggrieved women from coastal communities in the Niger Delta region during a protest march to the office of ex-militant leaders known as the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), said President Muhammadu Buhari should be held responsible if there is a resurgence of violence in the Niger Delta region.
According to them they are already feeling the heat as the gathering of disgruntled youths in their communities is causing problems.
One of the protesting women, Madam Ebiere Ankiomete, noted that though President Mohammadu Buhari’s actions so far gives more hope to the people of the region, the delay in appointing a substantive Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Finance to pay the Amnesty Training fund is threatening the progamme.
The coordinator of the ex-militant leaders, Pastor Rueben Wilson, appealed for calm and called on President Buhari to rescue the poorly-funded Presidential Amnesty Programme from collapse.
He said Buhari needs to match action with words on his promise during his inaugural speech to strengthen the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Wilson said ex-militant leaders have been under immense pressure as they have been appealing beneficiaries of the amnesty programme to remain calm.
He said “the passionate appeal comes on the heels of an avalanche of complaints received by the indigent parents of the Amnesty Beneficiaries, home and abroad, that their children and wards are currently experiencing hardship due to lack of funding to the programme.
“Mr President should not lose sight of the issue that brought about the Amnesty Programme. [He should] save it from total collapse. Mr. President, we use this medium to remind you and the good people of Nigeria of the promises to the people of Niger Delta about positive changes. Nigerians have since voted you into power because they need change; but from what we have seen so far we have reasons to doubt how soon, if at all, the change will come.”
“The peace we are enjoying in the Niger Delta area today is because of the Amnesty Program initiated by your predecessor, President Umaru Yar’adua, because he had the interest of the Niger Delta people at heart. You will also recall that as a result of the Amnesty Offer the country went from producing 900 barrels to over 2million barrels of crude oil per day. The parents who are infuriated at the attitude of President Buhari administration of more than one months of assuming power wonder if his words at the inaugural speech of strengthening the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) is just lip service and deceit.” For more scintillating and juicy stories, follow the official Naijapals accounts On Twitter - @Naijapals and Facebook - www.facebook.com/naijapals
I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 22-07-2015 09:02 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
You stupid guys here saying nonsense that they should get somtin to do are brainless. Do you really think if the insurgency starts again the Nigerian military can do much about it. Except you intend to involve International community and maybe blow the whole region and its people which I will see is unlawful.if the present administration can somehow fix them up but not spend money extravagantly on them because remember their lands produce oil and not yours cos I know thats why you guys can open your mouths to talk nonsense. put yourselves in their shoes for once
Posted: at 23-07-2015 07:44 AM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
fearlesspaul at 23-07-2015 02:53 PM (9 years ago) (m)
Quote from: leonardi on 23-07-2015 07:44 AM
You stupid guys here saying nonsense that they should get somtin to do are brainless. Do you really think if the insurgency starts again the Nigerian military can do much about it. Except you intend to involve International community and maybe blow the whole region and its people which I will see is unlawful.if the present administration can somehow fix them up but not spend money extravagantly on them because remember their lands produce oil and not yours cos I know thats why you guys can open your mouths to talk nonsense. put yourselves in their shoes for once
it depends on what you meant by fixing them up bcos I don't see any reason for the government to continue wasting Nigerian resources on people who do not have any desire to study. Bro, come to Malaysia and see things for yourself. How many of them who are studying under this scheme have passed a single course/subject? yet GEJ kept sending money into their accounts.
Posted: at 23-07-2015 02:53 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
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