BY PASSMAN, AKPOS
Why was the Presidential Amnesty Programme Created; was it a way of benefiting the people of the Niger Delta? or is it the federal government of Nigeria good intention to ameliorate the pains and suffering of the Niger Delta People?
I wonder, if the above were the reasons. Militant groups emerged around 2006 and were known for their violent attacks on the regions oil infrastructure and kidnapping oil companies employees for ransom. As a result of the violence and instability, the production and export of oil from the Niger Delta region decreased sharply.
The amnesty programme was set up to put an end to the sharp decrease of the production and exportation of oil from the Niger Delta region. Its main objectives was to:
- Disarm
- Demobilize and
- Reintegrate armed militants back into communities.
The programme involved offering benefit – such as opportunities in education as well as money to militant who gave up their weapons.
For the benefit of your understanding let me analyse the three above point.
1. DISARM: According to Thesaurus; disarm simply means to deprive of the means of attack or defense. It therefore means that the intention of the Amnesty Programe is to make the Niger Deltans defenseless, and the inability to attack. This bordered me on the recent attack and invasion of some Ijaw communities on the slighted provocation by the Nigerian Military.
Azagbene community in Ekeremor Local Government area of Bayelsa State where more than 50 residential homes were razed and people displaced from the community by 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army. The army were said to be searching for suspected militant who allegedly killed two of their colleagues guarding an oil facility in the area.
What suspected militant has to do with razing 50 residential houses, rendering people homeless and displaced.
Bilabiri is another community where residents homes and properties were burnt and destroyed during military invasion.
The predominantly Ijaw settlement in Ekeremor Local Government, Bayelsa State, was razed by military men in retaliation for the killing of four naval personnel by unknown gunmen.
Ezetu is another community, …. The list is endless, the Nigerian military does not have respect or regard for our local communities; thinking that, they are defenseless, or unable to attack because of the disarmament strategy of the Amnesty Programme.
2. DEMOBILIZATION: This simply means disorganization. The change from a war footing to a peace footing. According to military terms, is the process of standing down a nation’s armed forces from combat-ready status. In other word, is to retire from combatant activities.
A retired man, is a tired man. The aim of Amnesty is to weaken the fighting spirit of the Niger Deltan in order for her resources to be exploited sheepishly, the act of demobilization is to drain the voice of Niger Delta. The aim is to cause disorganization among Niger Deltan. That is the reason you see one ex-militant leader working for the down fall of another, boys fighting leaders of camp and vise a vise.
3. REINTEGRATION: This is the process of integrating someone back into society, I call this the exposition factor. When you are restore back to the society, your identity is more clearer, your location is easily traceable, you can be further induce by some incentive in order to dull you down.
In this case, the incentive are the monthly stipend and the house allowance given to ex-militant.
More revelation as you read me further…………
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