FG: Softly softly with the militants

Recently, the repentant militant leaders have publicly warned against this, stressing that conducting that would give rise to suspicion that the federal government might be looking for alibi with which to inflict some injury to the achieved ‘fragile’ peace. It may also send some of the militants regretting their embrace of the amnesty programme.   […]

Recently, the repentant militant leaders have publicly warned against this, stressing that conducting that would give rise to suspicion that the federal government might be looking for alibi with which to inflict some injury to the achieved ‘fragile’ peace. It may also send some of the militants regretting their embrace of the amnesty programme.

  What the federal government need to do is instead of embarking on something that might escalate into violence or crisis, it should hasten in practical terms those things that would show it is serious about implementing some post-amnesty programmes.  Let there be immediate beginning with some signs to show that the sincerity it projected to the affected militants and the affected areas as regards the amnesty deal is genuine. Let the federal government have behind its mind that whatever arms are still left behind which they are trying to comb out could be very insignificant as to be a source of any serious threat.  

Government needs the cooperation of the stakeholders in the region to keep on with the tempo of peace. There are other issues that should be tackled in the Niger Delta area and they include fighting the oil bunkering menace, something which the former militants can help in giving clue on how to curb; some militants had revealed that some former and serving military officers in the creeks together with some foreigners are seriously into the business.

Ndubusi Nwoarah, 245, Zik Avenue, Awka