About 6,000 ex-militants from Ondo State have staged a peaceful protest to seek the federal government’s intervention in reintegrating them into the Presidential Amnesty Programme since they have been disarmed; SUNSHINETRUTH can report authoritatively.
The Ex-Militants while briefing newsmen during a peaceful protest in Akure, Ondo State capital expressed disappointment in the manner with which they were abandoned by the federal government.
In a letter addressed to the National Security Adviser to the President, , the Spokesperson to the amalgamated ex-militants, Omoniyi Majofodun, noted that they were neglected which had adversely affected them.
Leader of the Ex-Militants group, General Ogalo Ibori appealed to the National Security Adviser, NSA to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and help their situation at properly integrating them into the society since they don’t want to go back to the creek.
Another member of the group, General Job Omotuwa said they can no longer feed their family and called on Ondo State government to also intervene on the matter.
The protesting ex-militants carrying placards with different inscriptions begged the federal and Ondo State governments to address the situation in the interest of peaceful co-existence.
The ex-militantssaid, “We the Youths and Ex-Militants of the mandate areas in Ondo State which comprises of Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas of Ondo State have been abandoned and neglected by the government at various levels in its Presidential Amnesty Programme till date having been so disarmed for
reintegration.
“The Ex-Militants and the entire Youths of the above said mandate areas
being part of the Federal Government initiative of disarmament/amnesty to
ensuring absolute peace and security in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
and in compliance to same, the ex-militants of the mandate areas accepted the offer, terms and conditions of the Federal Government by embarking on or keying into the disarmament/presidential amnesty exercise of Ex-Militants in November, 2017 and have accordingly surrendered or handed down to the Government arms and ammunitions of various degrees and purposes in a week long Disarmament/Presidential Amnesty exercise in sometime November, 2017 but the government has blatantly failed, refused and neglected to honour or fulfill its part by absorbing us into the current Presidential Amnesty programme carried out by the government in November,2017 till date.
“Sir, the government at all levels have abandoned, neglected and relegated us to our current hopelessness and il-tate having been so disarmed since
November, 2017.
“lt is our earnest yearning and prayer that you use your good office, influence and position as a man of the youth to absorbing us into the Presidential Amnesty Programme being the basis of the November, 2017 disarmament exercise carried out by the government. Moreover Sir, it is painful to note that till date, no step or nothing has been
made to absorb, ameliorate, mitigate and cushion our suffering and such calls for your honest, drastic and prompt attention being the Honourable Security Adviser to the President to assist and help us to be so absorbed in the Presidential Amnesty Programme as an integral part of the integration process sir.
“Sir, the need for your prompt and firm attention in enlisting and absorbing us into the Presidential Amnesty Programme is crucial and cannot be over
emphasized since the government has failed, reneged, refused and neglected to honour her part of the said Amnesty/Disarmament Agreement or
contract of November, 2017 till date.
“Additionally Sir, The Special Adviser to Mr. President /Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Committee and all other relevant stakeholders in the integration process have also failed, neglected and /or refused to honour our
plight of being absorb and enlisted as beneficiaries like others in the Amnesty Programme despite all efforts have been made to reach out to them regards our suffering and abandonment since 2017 till date.
“At this juncture Sir, it may interest you to note that having us been so disarmed and abandoned by the government til date, we can no longer feed ourselves, family(s), cater for love ones Currently on sick beds at various hospitals and healings homes/centres, sponsoring ourselves, children or dependents in achieving their various academy goal/pursuits since we have been left to our current despair, ill-fate and neglect despite of our relentless efforts made to reach out to the government till date.
“Finally sir, we strongly believe in your ability in resolving and eradicating our neglect in the current Presidential Amnesty Programme by the
Government, otherwise, we will be left with no other option than to return to our former means of livelihood if the government continues in its so neglect of us.
“We shall be grateful if our request is granted and the required speeny attention is given.”
