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Tag: ex-militants

  • Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin from Amnesty office

    Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin from Amnesty office

    Ex-militants from Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo and Delta states, have kicked against alleged plot by unknown persons to remove Head of Onshore Education Unit, office of the Amnesty Programme, Major Hassan Kesiena Mowarin (rtd).

    The ex-militants said there have been improvement in the scheme since Morawin assumed office and his appointment showed that the ruling party meant well for the people of the Niger Delta region.

    Spokesman for the ex-militants, Mr. Atangbala One, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City said some few individuals want Morawin removed because true beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme are now selected for the scheme.

    Atangbala alleged that the few cabal in the system placed fake beneficiaries in schools and subsequently force them to remit the sum of N30, 000 to N40, 000 monthly to them

    According to him, “Major Mowarin has been fighting feverishly against the commercialization of admission process for amnesty sponsorship which was supposed to be free for the genuine delegates for the program.

    “But a cabal hijacked it and sell the beneficiary codes of the poor children of the Niger Delta to their cronies.

    “The few cabals who do not mean well for the people of the region have gone as far as paying for on-line media, smear publications and also paying some uninformed persons to stage protest against him all in attempt to remove him and continue with their blood money business.”

  • Ex-militants: stop harassing Jonathan’s wife

    Ex-militants: stop harassing Jonathan’s wife

    A group, Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum, yesterday urged the Federal Government to stop harassing the ex-President’s wife, Patience Jonathan.

    It said it would not tolerate attempt by the Federal Government to embarrass her.

    In a statement in Port Harcourt by coordinators of the group in the nine states of Niger Delta, the leader, Prince A. Hornby, described the demolition of a building owned by Jonathan’s wife as a ridicule to the image of  the former President.

    He said the attack on Jonathan’s wife could cause tension in the region.

    Hornby said: Why should Dame Jonathan be the target of harassment and public ridicule? Her non-government organisation’s (NGO’s) office complex was demolished without following due process. This is capable of causing tension in Niger Delta.

    “We, the Niger Delta ex-agitators, are saying this harassment on Dame Jonathan should stop. She should not be further embarrassed.

    “We shall no longer tolerate this vindictive fight against our daughter and mother and her family. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, to order.

    ‘’Patience Jonathan should enjoy the level of privacy enjoyed by other past leaders’ wives.”

    He said the ex-militants would react in a manner that might not be in the interest of the nation, if the Federal Government did not stop the harassment.

  • Ex-militants give Buhari, Boroh pass mark

    Ex-militants give Buhari, Boroh pass mark

    Ex-militant leaders from the Niger Delta have lauded efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Gen. Paul Boroh, for their efforts to  develop the region.

    The ex-agitators were excited at the Presidential approval for the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State.

    The ex-militants, who met with Boroh in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State yesterday, praised Buhari for granting N65 billion budgetary allocation to the Amnesty Office.

    The meeting was convened to map out strategies and a way forward for beneficiaries.

    Speaking through their Bayelsa State Chairman, Mr. Bull Ifiemi, the ex-militants said Buhari and Boro had shown commitment to development of Niger Delta.

    They praised the Presidency for conducting far-reaching peace advocacy in the Niger Delta through Vice President Yemi Osibanjo.

    The former militants hinted that the advocacy achieved its objectives of engaging youths in the region and bringing them closer to the Federal Government.

    They attributed the peace in the region to the Vice President’s tour, which they said calmed frayed nerves, and praised Boroh for his continuous peace campaigns and result-oriented negotiations with aggrieved persons in the Niger Delta.

     

  • Ex-militants at war over plot to remove Buhari’s adviser on amnesty

    Ex-militants at war over plot to remove Buhari’s adviser on amnesty

    •We’re ready for probe, says presidential amnesty office

    Tension is rising in the Niger Delta following a plot by a section of ex-militant leaders to launch a campaign for the removal of the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd).

    The group, Niger Deltans for Accountability and Good Governance (NDAGG), has already set up a Boroh-must-go website (http://www.ndagg) to push its case against the coordinator.

    It accused   the amnesty coordinator of denying ex-militants their entitlements.

    Rooting for Boroh, however, is the Niger Delta Concerned Ex-agitators (NDCE), which in a statement in Yenagoa yesterday , warned anti-Boroh elements to forget the protests and support the Buhari government.

    Also behind Boroh are ex-militant leaders of phases 2 and 3 who met in Port Harcourt, Rivers State with him.

    The Presidential Amnesty Office dismissed the anti-Boroh campaign as both a hatchet job and blackmail, saying, “Unfortunately, there is a growing culture of some persons mainly from the South -South of the country playing on blackmail to get by or get contracts; this will not work with the Presidential Amnesty Programme,” the Media head of the office, Owei Lakemfa said in a statement.

    The anti-Boroh group, NDAGG, plans to kick-start what it calls the mother of all protests against Boroh on Wednesday, July 5.

    Follow up protests will be held at a two weeks interval.

    One of such protests is scheduled for the front of Abuja House, South Kensington, London, England, where the agitators believe President Muhammadu Buhari is currently recuperating.

    Another is scheduled for Consulate General of Nigeria in New York, United States of America (USA).

    The group also plans to block the Mbiama axis of the East-West road, NUJ Office Warri, Delta State and Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The group believes it can mobilize over 100,000 Niger Delta youths for the protests.

    The group accused the amnesty office of massive fraud and using fake names for empowerment. The opposing group, NDCE, in a statement by its Secretary, Perewari Johnson, condemned “any form of protest that some persons are planning to embark upon against the Boroh-led Amnesty programme.”

    It urged “all well-meaning stakeholders and citizens not to allow people with selfish interest to use them against their fellow Niger-Delta son who has done so well.”

    It branded those clamouring for the removal of Boroh as enemies of the development of people in the region.

    “They are only antagonizing Boroh’s regime in the amnesty office because unlike his predecessors he has refused to succumb to their demand to award contract that will not be executed and to share monies made for the empowerment and human capacity development of the Niger Delta region,” NDCE said.

    It asked security agencies to stop the planned protest in the interest of the peace and commended the federal government for ensuring sustained peace in the region.

    The ex-agitators said they were happy that the government took the right steps including increasing the budgetary allocation to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) by N30bn to stop violent agitations in the region.

    They noted that the peace deal had resulted in government’s increased attention to the region and the training and employment of over 200 youths under the PAP.

    They pleaded for continued peace in the region and said: “We have confidence in the ability of the coordinator of the amnesty programme as he has been very meticulous in implementing the programme for the benefit of all former agitators and the region at large in the past two years which has translated to lasting peace in the region.

    “Only in the month of June over 2000 former agitators from the region have commenced training in farming technology at the College of Agriculture at Iguoriakhi in Edo State and over 200 have been enrolled for an all-inclusive sports programme which will keep our youth gainfully engaged.”

    At the Port Harcourt meeting with some ex-militants, Boroh said conflict and violence would not the resolve crises.

    He tasked the leaders to constantly remind the ex-agitators in their camps not to breach the peace in the country.

    The presidential aide noted that they should ensure that the non-violence agreement signed at Obubra that led to the declaration of Amnesty in 2009 was upheld.

    Boroh urged the leaders to use all channels of dialogue in solving problems to allow government’s developmental projects like the rail construction, modular refineries and the community pipeline surveillance to take off.

    Ex-militant leaders of phases 2 and 3 resolved at the meeting to support President Buhari’s peace initiatives for the Niger Delta region.

    In a separate statement in Abuja, the Media Head of the Presidential Amnesty Office, Owei Lakemfa said the department was ready for probe of its activities, but vowed that it would not succumbed to blackmail from anyone.

    His words:” The attention of the presidential amnesty office has been drawn to a group demanding a probe of its activities. As a public institution answerable to the public, the Office is obliged to give account of its activities.

    “So in itself, there is nothing wrong with a probe. Also, a probe does not mean guilt; it is merely an inquiry to find out if any infraction has been committed. It is like a man under-going a routine medical check-up which does not necessarily mean he is sick.

    “If in truth this group wants a probe, it ordinarily would wait for the response of the authorities it has petitioned and the outcome of the probe.

    “To proceed to call for so-called protests in and outside the country until the leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme is replaced, is to pronounce guilt even before any investigation is carried out or the officials are given any chance to respond to the load of unsubstantiated claims.

    “This is against the laws of natural justice, our national and international laws and ethics which give every human being the fundamental right to defend himself before a competent authority or court of law.

    “This exposes the under belly of the probe demand as being far from altruistic; it is an indication that a hatchet job is under way. Unfortunately, there is a growing culture of some persons mainly from the South -South of the country playing on blackmail to get by or get contracts; this will not work with the Presidential Amnesty Programme. It is no more business as usual.

    “Also, despite the blackmail, the Office stands by its decision that those on the Amnesty scholarship in tertiary institutions would not be entitled to be paid stipends along with their monthly In-Training-Allowance as this amounts to double payment.

    “The Presidential Amnesty Programme is a professional and security interventionist agency designed to bring peace, stability and development to the Niger Delta and has so far succeeded in its primary mandate; it is therefore unpatriotic to seek to politicize it. It is indeed a security programme not a political one and the leadership of the Programme under Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd) the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Programme has strived and has so far succeeded in shielding it away from partisan politics.

    “As we know, the Federal Budget was passed about midyear, which led to long delays in payment of stipends, school fees ,projects and In-training-Allowance,  but through pain staking reach out programmes, meetings, explanations and support by all and sundry,  the Boroh leadership has been able to  maintain continuous peace in the Niger Delta.”

  • Ex-militants to Osinbajo: rescue us from hunger

    Ex-militants to Osinbajo: rescue us from hunger

    Niger Delta ex-militant leaders yesterday implored Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to rescue them from hunger by wading into their arrears of unpaid stipends.

    They argued that paying them the money would help to consolidate the federal government’s peace efforts in the region.

    The ex-militant leaders under the Phase two Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) lamented the Coordinator of the Programme, Gen. Paul Boroh (retd) had not paid them their stipends since January.

    Six of the phase two leaders, who spoke in Yenagoa, commended the peace initiatives of the government in the Niger Delta but claimed that the non-payment of their stipends if not addressed urgently could truncate the existing peace in the region.

    They, however, mentioned one Major Bernard, who they said work in the office of Boroh, as a major obstacle to the coordinator’s desire to address their plight.

    They said initially those of them that nominated their relatives to be trained in academic institutions received N65, 000 monthly but that the current coordinator was no longer paying them the money.

    Some of the leaders, who expressed their frustration, are Paul Ebibokefie, John Esuku, Joseph Alfred, Esau Amaebimo, Goddy Kaduna, Clement Wodo and Passman Golukumor.

    Ebibokefie insisted that the amnesty office had failed to complement the efforts of Osinbajo to ensure peace in the Niger Delta.

    He said: “The federal government has not paid our stipends since January 1st, 2017.

    “We are therefore calling on the appropriate body, the good people of Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to order retired Brigadier-General Paul Boro to pay us our stipends.

    “I can remember that the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, came here two months ago saying he wanted peace in the Niger Delta on behalf of the Federal Government, and there has been peace since then.

    “But, unfortunately, we have not been paid our stipends for five months and we are begging the government to look into the issue. There is hunger in the society but peace in the region”.

     

     

     

     

  • Ex-militants decry non-payment of allowances

    ‘From all indications, our ordeal is not unconnected with our refusal to support his preferred governorship candidate in the last election in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN). Since the election, Ajube has threatened to deal with all those who worked for the APC candidate and now Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu’

    Some ex-militants from Bolowou community in Ese-Edo Local Government Area of Ondo State have raised the alarm over non-payment of their N65, 000 monthly amnesty stipends.
    The affected ex-militants, numbering 25, said they became worried when they were not paid alongside other beneficiaries of the scheme in the council who had received alerts on their bank accounts.
    They alleged that they were being victimised due to their decision to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) during last year’s governorship election.
    Ese-Odo has always been a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but the APC was victorious in the council during the last gubernatorial polls.
    They also alleged that the former Western Fringe Commander of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr Bibopere Ajube, alias General Shoot at Sight, is the mastermind of the stoppage of their allowances.
    A statement jointly signed by two of the ex-militants, Jamin Wariebi and Lubi Timiakirimni said Ajube was punishing them over their refusalý to support the governorship candidate of the PDP, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) in the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State.
    They, therefore, threatened to embark on a peaceful protest at Bolowou if their allowances remained unpaid.
    The statement reads: ‘’We are worried and constrained to alert the nation that a former MEND commander, Bibopere Ajube, aka General Shoot at Sight, has stopped the payment of our N65,000 monthly stipends with the collaborating of the programme’s coordinator, Brigadier- General Paul Boroh (rtd).
    ‘’All other beneficiaries of the programme have been paid, but to our surprise, ours was not and we were informed by competent sources at the Amnesty Office that Ajube went to the coordinator to delist us from the programme and has already replaced us with persons who were not even captured in the programme.
    ‘’From all indications, our ordeal is not unconnected with our refusal to support his preferred governorship candidate in the last election in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).
    ”Since the election, Ajube has threatened to deal with all those who worked for the APC candidate and now Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.”
    But when contacted, Ajube confirmed the allegation, saying he has given their slots to those who were genuine ex-militants.
    He warned them to stop linking their ordeal with the last governorship election in Ondo State, insisting that they will never benefit from the scheme again because they are not ex-militants.
    He noted that the 25 people involved lied by claiming that they worked for the APC during the last governorship election because they were loyalists of Chief Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
    He said: “I have been sincere to my people on this issue of Amnesty and that is why I always directed the Amnesty office to pay directly into the boys’ accounts unlike my colleagues, who would ask the office to pay into their accounts and later share the money to their boys.
    “We will ensure that only those genuine ex-militants will continue to benefit from the scheme.”

  • Ex-militants storm bank in Bayelsa

    Ex-militants yesterday caused panic in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, when they stormed a commercial bank at Amarata, demanding full payment of their monthly stipends.

    The Nation learnt the former agitators got violent at the banking hall on discovering that a huge amount was deducted from their N65,000 monthly stipends by the bank, following instruction from their former commanders.

    They were said to have scattered the banking hall, turned tables over and forced customers to flee.

    “If you don’t give us our money in full, you will go the way Wale went,” one of them was quoted as saying.

    Adewale Adesanya, an official of the bank popularly called Wale, was killed by gunmen eight months ago on his way to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The deceased  managed ex-militants’ accounts.

    One of the former agitators with scars on his body was said to have stripped himself, threatening to defecate.

    It was gathered about N40,000 each was deducted from the accounts of the ex-militants, leaving them with N25,000.

    A customer, who ran out of the bank, said the sight of the former agitators was scary, adding that they were violent.

    A bank official, who spoke in confidence, said efforts to calm them down proved abortive, as they shouted and attempted to destroy bank property.

    She said the branch manager was forced to call for a detachment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    “They threatened everybody. Their appearance was frightening. Some had deep scars and healed bullet wounds.”

    The banker said the ex-militants had an agreement with their ‘generals’ that N20,000 each should be deducted from their N65,000 every month, leaving them with a balance of N45,000.

    “What happened was that last month, the stipend was not paid in time. The former agitators took their N65,000, without recourse to the agreement.

    “So, when the latest stipend was paid, the ‘generals’ insisted two months’ deductions be made and paid into their accounts. It is a standing order, which was carried out, but the ex-militants don’t want to understand,” she said.

    The banker added: “This is not the fault of the bank. They agreed to the deductions and even signed an undertaking. But now they make it look as if the bank and its officials are the ones collecting their money. They should meet their commanders.”

  • Idahosa Varsity threatens to sanction Presidential Amnesty Students

    Management of the Benson Idahosa University has threatened to sanction ex-militants who are beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programmes in the institution.

    The ex-militants had on Wednesday caused a lock down at the institution during a protest over non-payment of their monthly stipends by the presidency.

    They set-up bonfires within the university campus and locked the institution’s gate thereby preventing staff or visitors from entering or leaving the campus.

    The protesters were said to have chanted war songs demanding immediate payment of their in-training allowances.

    Addressing journalists in Benin City, Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Ernest Izevbigie, said the university was still investigating the disturbances on campus before giving appropriate sanctions.

    Prof. Izevbigie stated that locking the gate and preventing people’s movement was a serious offense and against the institution’s laid down rules and regulations.

    Izevbigie said the university’s rules and regulations apply to all students of the institution whether they are under federal government scholarship or not.

    He opined that the protesting ex-militants failed to explore internal mechanism to solve their problems.

    His words, “Every students is accountable to his or actions. We are considering what those violations would amount to even though no property of the school was destroyed.

    “Regardless of the number of months being owed, it is not sufficient for anyone to disturb the peace of others or does things not in line with our rules and regulations. We are taking steps to make sure such incidents does not occur again.

    Explaining why immediate sanction was not meted to the protesters, Prof. Izevbigie said, “We are university of due process. We are following due process. There is still need for investigation. We will review the tapes as capture by CCTV.”

    Leader of the Niger Delta Amnesty students, Priye Noel Kuete, said the ex-militants did the protest because of hunger.

    Priye explained  that many of the Amnesty students wrote examinations without taking any food because of delayed payment.

    He apologized to the school authorities for the disturbances and promised that such incident would not occur again.

    “We expressed our apology for what transpired. For several months, our monthly stipends were not paid. We have been receiving lectures in hunger.

    “We never intended to be violent. We are regretting what happened. The federal government should pay our allowances.”

     

  • Group meets ex-militants, youth leaders for development

    A group, Niger Delta Peace Campaign for Development Network (NDPCDN), has said for development to occur in the Niger Delta, it will seek collaboration between Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and youths.

    It said everybody, including ex-agitators, youths and community leaders must be considered as stakeholders.

    Addressing former militants and youth leaders in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NDPCDN leader Comrade Bussa Fullpower said NDDC board led by Obong Esima Ekere would work with peace-minded people.

    He said his group would persuade militants and ex-agitators to embrace peace and allow the Federal Government and NDDC focus on the region’s development.

    Fullpower said: “As youth leaders of our communities, we ought to be agents of peace. We are meeting youths in the nine communities to see how we can give peace a chance. Definitely, they will carry everybody along.”

    The ex-militants agreed to give peace a chance. But they were worried the Federal Government and NDDC did not consider them as important stakeholders.

    A former agitator, Mr. Abiodun Peter Edah, popularly called General Abiodun, said if the Federal Government and NDDC wanted to develop the region, they should carry ex-militants along.

    He said: “The idea of giving peace a chance is a welcome development, but I believe if the          Federal Government and NDDC are serious to develop the region, they must involve us. They should not see us as those who are not part of the development agenda.

     ”Besides youths, community leaders must be carried along if we are to achieve peace. When former President Goodluck Jonathan was in power, he partnered us to watch waterways and other places.”

    Another ex-agitator, Mr. Tommy Dore, formerly known as General Dore, said: “I’m in support of any peace move in Niger Delta, but I cannot be part of any manipulation. If President Muhammadu Buhari is visiting the region, leaders, including community leaders, should be invited.

    “NDDC should allow everybody to benefit from any empowerment programme, such as skill acquisition, scholarship and the rest. The idea of filling these positions with the names of their relations should stop because there is need to reposition NDDC.”

  • Verification of ex-militants begins

    Verification of ex-militants begins

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme Office has commenced the verification of ex-militants to ascertain their exact number,the Coordinator, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), said yesterday.

    Boroh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the exercise was part of the exit plans.

    The  Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta  reiterated government’s commitment to the training and empowerment of all beneficiaries listed on the programme,saying more than 3,010 ex-militants who recently exited the programme have been empowered.

    “Exiting from the programme is as a result of empowerment and delegates are given starter packs for their businesses,” he said.

    “The office trains the ex-militants in various vocational skill centres and educational institutions in Nigeria and abroad.