MOSOP urges armed youths to embrace peace, development in Ogoni
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa and Tony John, Port Harcourt
Former militant leaders have sent a letter to the Federal Ministry of Finance, warning that non-release of the budgetary allocation to the Niger Delta states, to offset funds for the Presidential Amnesty Office could lead to protests and break-down of law and order in the region.
The former militant leaders, under the aegis of Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI) in a letter to the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said although the ministry has the legal right of allocating funds, under the Federal Government, former militants have resolved to restate an earlier call to her, to release the 2016 supplementary budgetary allocation meant for the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
The group, in a statement after a meeting held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday, which was presided over by its President, Chief Reuben Wilson, resolved that the minister should release the said funds for effective and efficient management of the programme to avoid break down of law and order.
The group said non-release of the funds would disrupt the ongoing peace process in the region initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Meanwhile, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), has welcomed Rivers State Government’s intervention in Ogoni security crisis, by offering fresh amnesty to armed youths. MOSOP has also commended the renewed commitment and efforts of Ogoni leaders to ensure enduring peace in the community and appealed to them not to relent or be distracted by anti-peace sentiments and tactics by those that would want them fail. The movement, in a statement by Bari-ala Kpalap, the Media Adviser to MOSOP President, Lergbosi Pyagbara, urged Ogoni youths to shun acts of criminality and embrace peace so that environmental remediation can be achieved.
“We acknowledge with relief, the commitment to peace in the fresh amnesty offered to repentant cultists and related groups in Ogoni, who had previously shunned the project.
“Since our only choice is returning peace to the region, we entreat all Ogonis to support and co-operate with the leaders as the task of recreating an Ogoni marked by sustainable peace must be accomplished.
“To us, the state administration’s response is a major step forward and a boost to the Ogoni peace process.
“Hence, we would urge the government to effectively follow through the effort by deploying all available resources in returning and sustaining peace in the area.
“The movement has, thus, called on the Ogoni people, especially the youths involved in anti-social occupations, including cultism, militancy and violence to embrace amnesty as they will have themselves to blame for failure.
“MOSOP has, in the spirit of the awakened thirst for peace in the region, commended Mr. Solomon Ndigbara, who, not minding his disadvantaged circumstances, has voluntarily offered to work and co-operate with government and its security agencies; Ogoni leaders and organisations, including providing useful information that would lead to the abatement of violence and death and ensure lasting peace in Ogoniland.
“Nevertheless, we advise him to match the declaration with action, bringing his knowledge and understanding of the cult world to bear on the Ogoni peace process.
“However, we appeal to the federal government to reconsider its stance regarding Ogoni citizens it has declared wanted in controversial circumstances in the new spirit of recreating an Ogoni marked by sustainable peace, stability and development.
We would particularly call on the government to revisit the case of Solomon Ndigbara.
“It is our view that, even in the face of the reawakened realisation, lasting peace can only be achieved in the region if, and we must say to ourselves, ‘never again shall we allow such bestial bloodletting to occur among us’ and collectively work to sustain it.
“While it may not be untrue that the condemnable violence and killings that engulfed our communities may have been externally masterminded using internal collaborators and executioners, this has been possible because some people among us allowed themselves to be manipulated to inflict mayhem on, and embarrassed Ogoni and this must stop.”
MOSOP, however, warned that environmental justice expressible in the Ogoni environmental remediation and restoration exercise cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of insecurity. It said Ogoni should not provide the excuse upon which those responsible for the implementation of the project would mask behind and renege.
“We must recognise and demonstrate that peace is a treasure and priceless hence we again entreat us to keep the peace.”