Amnesty has given us better orientation — Muturu, ex-militant leader

The benefits of the ongoing amnesty programme granted Niger Delta ex-militants by the Federal Government, has been described as an eye-opener to youths of the Niger Delta area. In this interview with the Delta state chairman, Phase 2 ex-militants, Mr Kingsley Muturu, he disclosed that the programme is a plus to the Nigerian government and its people, particularly Niger Deltans. Excerpts:


Can you briefly tell us about the implementation of the amnesty programme, from its inception to the present moment?
Well, I can say the programme is progressing because there are a lot of success stories to tell, which you media people are aware of. We have had orientation over the struggle; we have had better ways to approach issues regarding the Niger Delta struggle for fair treatment from the government at the centre.
In fact, the amnesty programme has sharpened our sense of reasoning and better orientation on the Nigerian state.
Can you compare the former government and the present one in terms of its implementation?
The former administration which office was chaired by Kingsley Kuku tried its best in carrying out re-orientation and training programmes, as well as payment of stipends to ex-agitators.
Kuku really tried his best with considerable achievement in the execution of the programme, though he might not have satisfied everybody which is a fact, that one cannot satisfy everybody all the time.
And talking about the present management, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) is doing his best, most especially in the area of training of youths, and that ongoing efforts will establish the programme to create job opportunities for many of us. We have seen him as somebody who has pains over the state of the Niger Delta in the discharge of his assigned duties.
Talking about the 2016 budget as presented to the National Assembly, how would you react to the amount appropriated for the amnesty programme, which is below the usual amount appropriated previous years?
Well, we have already reacted to that through an Open Letter to the President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, recently. As I said before, President Buhari is known as a man of integrity and that implementing the amnesty programme has to do with integrity on the part of government.
We express the hope that His Excellency the President will see the need to re-visit the amount as appropriated in the budget, because I am not of the opinion that the President has ill-will towards the training programme for ex-agitators of the Niger Delta.



Check the Vanguard newspaper for the full story.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 World Most Eloquent People

Image
Only the eloquent can adequately describe eloquence. It includes articulation, a mellifluous tone of voice and poise under pressure. To be eloquent is to speak well in a persuasive and deeply thoughtful way. Though it appears to come easily, eloquence does not often come naturally. The most talented speakers often have training in rhetoric and behavioral psychology. Here are 10 great examples of eloquent speakers who have made their mark on the world. 1. Martin Luther King, Jr “I Have a Dream” is perhaps the most powerful speech in American history. In poetic, unequivocal language, he explains how people can live up to their ideals for the sake of their children. 2. Abraham Lincoln In a speech only two minutes long, Lincoln explained the moral justification for the Civil War in his Gettysburg Address. 3. Winston Churchill In a few short years Churchill transformed himself from a burly, unemployed, failed novelist to a leader of the free world with ...
Read more

St. Finbaar’s College, Akoka wins the annual Helmbridge Science Challenge for secondary schools in Lagos State.

St. Finbarr’s College Akoka, Lagos at the weekend won the annual Helmbridge Science Challenge for secondary schools in Lagos State. The school in a six-week-long competition defeated May Day College and Topgrade Secondary School, Surulere in the preliminaries to qualify for the final. The Akoka boys who walked-over Penny International College Coker, the defending champions, for late coming, went into sporadic jubilation on their victory. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that 16 schools participated in the competition, including Yaba College of Technology Secondary School, St. Finbaar’s College, Penny Internatinal College, Shining Lord’s Secondary and Technical School. Others are St. Michael’s Anglican College, Jubilee Model Grammar school, Fountain Heights Secondary School, St. Gregory’s College and St. Jude’s Private Secondary School. Also in the competition are Methodist Boys’ High School, Birch Freeman High School, Community Senior Grammar School and ABS College. ...
Read more

CRUDE IN THE NORTH: OIL MAY THREATEN NATION’S ‘FOOD BASKET’

Image
…CAUTIONS OPTIMISM AS EXPERTS SPEAK THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, NNPC, ANNOUNCED, LAST WEEKEND, THAT IT HAS DISCOVERED CRUDE OIL, GAS AND CONDENSATES IN THE KOLMANI RIVER II WELL IN NORTHERN NIGERIA. THE ROAD TO THE DISCOVERY WAS PAVED WITH BILLIONS OF NAIRA SPENT ON EXPLORATION. THOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DISCLOSED THE ACTUAL AMOUNT SPENT IN SEARCHING FOR HYDROCARBONS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA, PROFESSOR JERRY GANA, WHO WAS THEN-CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTHERN NIGERIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT, HAD, IN 2013, STATED THAT UP UNTIL THEN, N27 BILLION HAD BEEN SPENT ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN THE LAKE CHAD BASIN. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PURSUIT OF OIL SEARCH IN THE NORTH. THE OPPORTUNITY COST OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO SPEND BILLIONS IN SEARCHING OF CRUDE OIL IN THE NORTH INCLUDED THE ABANDONED BRASS AND OLOKOLA LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS, LNG, PROJECTS, THE REVAMP OF THE COUNTRY’S REFINERIES, THE POSSIBILITY OF ...
Read more