Ex-militants “indict” Yar’adua, Uduaghan and Akpabio
Editor, From all indications, it shows that the federal government, nay President Yar'Adua, is not yet in full control of the success so far recorded in the amnesty deal. Discordant tunes are coming from here and there among the militants. Like people have continued warning, there are still more Boyloafs, Tom Atekes, Tompolos, etc waiting to be recognized; after all the lower boys could strife strongly to make their own money and be so recognized. Let us not shy away from this fact.
Also for Tompolo, Ateke, Boyloaf and other leaders to continue urging their boys to be patient, should give the federal government idea that it is not yet uhuru. Reading Octorber 27, 2009 issues of THIS DAY pages 9 and 10, and THE PUNCH page 12, you would see attendant signals.
In Akwa Ibom, for instance, the ex-militant leader Nico Martins Sintei who surrendered arms along with his boys is accusing governor Akpabio and his government of certain things: In the case of Governor Akpabio, it is that he made a careless statement in the media to the effect that those militants that surrendered in the State were because they saw Akwa Ibom as a safer place to participate in the amnesty deal and no militant exists in Akwa Ibom; this is not the kind of statement that was expected from a State governor in a programme that Mr. President holds at a high esteem. Again, Akwa Ibom government amnesty coordinator, Mr. Michael Eyo who is a Permanent Secretary in the governor's office does not pick calls from (ex-militants) any longer. The ex-militants have been thrown out of the hotels and other accommodations and the government is not living up to the amnesty agreement. The ex-militant leader promised to go back to the creeks, if this attitude does not change immediately.
On the part of governor Uduaghan ex-militant leader Chief Togo who surrendered with his group of 300 boys in Delta State feels neglected and was quoted as saying that: “neither Mr. President nor my state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has deemed it fit to open a discussion with me for way forward. I feel deceived and sidelined in the whole peace process.”
Whoever says that these are empty threats may not imagine when the real actions degenerate. The governments involved must buckle up.
Dr. Julius Madaki
Seriki Close Bauchi,
Bauchi state