EX-MILITANT LEADERS WARN AGAINST PROBE OF FG AMNESTY PROGRAMME

Ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta region have warned against probe of the Federal Government amnesty programme. Some stakeholders in the region in an advertorial placed in a national newspaper had called for the probe of the programme.

The ex-militant leaders reacting to the mounting calls for the probe of the programme over alleged cases of mismanagement of welfare packages for the ex-militants accused those calling for the probe of attempting to drag the programme into the political arena.

The ex-militant leaders from Bayelsa and Rivers states in a statement issued by General Amaibe Hornbyaka a.k.a Bustar Rhymes warned politicians in the zone to steer clear of the amnesty programme and separate it from politics.

Hornbyaka, who admitted that the political rivalry between Governor Timipre Sylva and former coordinator of the programme, Mr. Ndutimi Aliabe was adversely affecting the programme. He maintained that a call for probe was a distraction.

He said: 'ß Kingsley Kuku is a product of the creek, he knows the problem of the Niger Delta and now he is trying to bring all the ex-militant leaders together, they want to use some people to frustrate him. We will not allow the interest of few persons to affect the amnesty programme.

'Kuku has the support of the ex-militant leaders, but we also call on him to be firm and continue the good work he is doing. We the ex-militants in Rivers State will go to any length to protect him. Peace has come to the Niger Delta, so let us celebrate the peace that we are now enjoying, instead of using people to raise unnecessary alarm that can cause crisis.'