Former Niger Delta militants, under the aegis of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Solidarity Front, yesterday faulted a group, the United Niger Delta Ex-Agitators and Leaders’ Forum, for asking the Federal Government to stop Mr. Kingsley Kuku from parading himself as chairman of the Amnesty Programme.
In a statement by its National Coordinator/Leader, Comrade Ramsey Mukoro, the Solidarity Front said there was no group called the United Niger Delta Ex-Agitators and Leaders’ Forum.
The statement described the Leaders’ Forum as faceless, adding that it was being sponsored by ‘mischievous elements’ to undermine Kuku’s achievements.
The Solidarity Front was reacting to an advertorial on page 49 of Vanguard on June 4.
The group said the advertorial was by political jobbers bent on discrediting Kuku’s reputation.
The statement reads: “We have noted the futile attempts by a faceless and directionless group, United Niger Delta Ex-Agitators and Leaders’ Forum, to discredit Kingsley Kuku and the laudable achievements of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme till date. Their publication on page 49 of Vanguard on June 4 is purely the handiwork of political jobbers.”
The Solidarity Front hailed the Federal Government and Kuku for keeping to the vision of the Amnesty Programme.
The group noted that the programme had brought peace to the region and reduced militancy in the Niger Delta.
It recalled that during the first phase, the leaders struggled for justice and equity for the region.
The Solidarity Front added that the second and third phases were included in the programme to accommodate those with reservations about the original idea.