WARRI — AMNESTY International Nigeria, Group 17, weekend, asked the United States of America to immediately broker talks on the development of the Niger Delta and the disarmament plans of the warlords in the region before the problem gets out of hand.
Amnesty International in a statement, signed by its Secretary-General, Mr. John Lar-Wisa said it was “highly impressed to learn that the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili has, in the spirit of true reconciliation offered to buy the 3,000 AK-47 rifles owned by one of the belligerent groups in the state.”
Recalling that President Olusegun Obasanjo met, Septemeber 29, in the nation’s capital with the two warlords and the fact that these groups were empowered by people now in government during election times, the group hailed the monetary offer in exchange for the guns as a fruitful disarmament strategy.
But it queried why a whopping N750 million of the peoples’ money would be expended for “one silly mistake made by some people who had sought political office at all cost,” adding that, “ they never had the peoples’ mandate, neither are they being consulted before spending this money. However, as a contract sum, what percentage the awarding officer gets is not the concern of Amnesty International.
“Amnesty International Nigeria believes strongly that if Asari Dokubo is paid this sum of money, the other group led by Ateke Tom will surely return to ask for his; failure which the people should expect another period of gun battle. Government finds no harm in disbursing this token; after all, it is public fund and is readily available.
“One basic question bothers this organization: At one time, government declared these men wanted and at another they are provided with presidential jet with full protection to Aso Rock for presidential discussion, where discussants exchange pleasantries like: you know me, you also know my temperament, we met five times.
"Amnesty International is particularly urging the Delta state government, which has similar warlords in its domain to employ such strategies if necessary to resolve the crises of this state. We envisage that the warring youths of this state are watching closely how these recent groups are remunerated for taking arms against each other. It would be recalled that Amnesty International had postulated in the past that the so-called warlords in Delta state are not aliens to the state governor or shall we say government. But they have hitherto been shielded and treated as sacred cows.
“It is customary that Amnesty International opposes the use of arms or any form of violence in demanding for one’s right; therefore, Nigeria, Group 17 challenges Asari Dokubo and Ateke Tom and their followers and supporters to voluntarily surrender their arms, without asking for any form of rewards, and adopt a more civilized and lawful method of demanding for their rights, which are more dignified and rewarding; if they were truly fighting for resource control and autonomy for the region”, Lar-Wisa stated.
