Ex-Militants appeal to FG to clear 3 months stipends arrears

 Former Niger Delta militants, under the auspices of the second phase of the Amnesty Programme, have appealed to the Federal Government to pay their three months  outstanding stipends.

The Chairman of the second phase in Bayelsa Mr Ebina Salvation, in a statement on made available to ews Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Sunday said the non payment of the stipends was a burden to ex-agitators.

 He noted that the existing peace in the Niger Delta was as a result of the amnesty programme, adding that the delay in the payment of stipends to ex-militants was regrettable. 

Salvation, therefore, pleaded with the government to release adequate funds to the Amnesty Office for effective implementation of the programme.

The ex-militant leader also called on the Federal Government to go back to the blueprint of the amnesty programme and implement its content by interfacing with the Coordinator of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.) and the ex-agitators. 

He, however, discountenanced the Second Phase from a statement purportedly written by factional leader of the programme, Stephen Ebisintei, who allegedly threatened that they would shut down all Central Bank of Nigeria branches in the region over failure to pay their stipends.

Salvation restated that the Amnesty Office under the leadership of Boroh was doing well and therefore should not be blamed for the delay in the payment of their stipends.

"We, therefore, describe the allegations of the faction as false, baseless, mischievous and wicked.

“The allegations lack substance and should be thrown to the dustbin of history by all right thinking persons.

"We, therefore, urge members of the group to discountenance Stephen Ebisintei's display of falsehood which is a figment of his imagination and that of his co-travelers." the statement read in part

Salvation maintained that the CBN is not Amnesty Phase 2 Office but a bank accountable and rendering services to all Nigerians, both nationally and internationally.

He, therefore, called on the security agents to be alert, urging them to find out from amnesty office the recognized leadership of the Phase to enable them to stop people using the name to issue unnecessary treats and publications.

"That is the only way to hold people responsible if anything happens. Our leadership is enlightened reasonable, law abiding and has respect for elders and the government," he stated.

Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, Liaison Officer at the Bayelsa Office of the Amnesty Officer  declined comments when contacted for reaction on the outstanding stipends.