ASARI — THIRD Phase amnesty leaders, yesterday, appealed to President Muhammad Buhari not to scrap the amnesty programme, the pipeline surveillance contracts and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, which they said were the only tangible benefits being enjoyed by the people of the oil rich region.
Addressing newsmen shortly after a meeting of the third phase leaders in Ughelli, Delta State, National Secretary of the body, Tam Odogwu, noted that the appeal was predicated on the fact that the relative peace in the Niger Delta was made possible and sustained by the interventionist mechanisms.
Pledging their support for the new administration, Odogwu said: “The 1,338 third phase ex-militant leaders expressed their appreciation to the Chairman of the presidential amnesty committee, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, for his efficient management of the amnesty programme which he said has recorded unquantifiable successes.
“We, however, frown at the empowerment package approved by the National Assembly through Kuku’s efforts because it is grossly inadequqte, considering the large number of ex-militant leaders in the third phase. We, therefore, call on the new administration to review it.”
