Mr. Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, Former commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), popularly known as General Boyloaf, has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining the Presidential Amnesty Scheme.
The ex-agitator noted that the President’s decision to continue with the Presidential Amnesty Ptogramme on assumption of in 2015, was a demonstration of his good intentions for youths of the Niger Delta region.
Victor-Ben spoke on Tuesday at a Peace day ceremony to mark the day agitators willingly dropped their arms at the Yenagoa Peace Park , opposite the Bayelsa Government House.
Victor-Ben applauded the pioneering role of former governor of Bayelsa St, Chief Timipre Sylva and other Ijaw leaders which culminated in the eventual proclamation of amnesty for repentant militants in the Niger Delta region.
He recalled how late former President Shehu Musa Yaradua contacted him through Ex-governor Sylva to discuss the amnesty deal
According to him, the reason which led to militancy in the Niger Delta was for economic emancipation of the people of the region to have a fair share out of the resources from the region that produces over ninety percent of the national wealth.
He said that it was regrettable that prior to the Amnesty Programme, the Niger Delta region had nothing to show for its oil endowments because of the insensitivity of previous administrations in the country.
Victor-Ben was honoured alongside the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), Governor Seriake Dickson and Pastor Reuben with Peace Award .
Victor-Ben called on self seeking politicians to stop distracting the President from carrying out good plans for the Niger Delta, adding he has faith in the present administration, just as he looked forward to more politicies targetted at the region.
It would be recalled that Gen. Boyloaf had joined the then newly formed MEND in 2006, where he rose to prominence in the ranks of the organisation.
No comments:
Post a Comment