Mend No Threat To Amnesty, We Are Still On Course - Abbe

PHOTO: DEFENCE MINISTER, GENERAL GODWIN ABBE.

Abuja Feb 03, (THEWILL) - Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Godwin Abbe on Wednesday said the government’s amnesty programme was on course and that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was not a threat to the programme even though the group has declared called off its cease fire agreement with the government.

Abbe spoke after the Presidential Coordinating Committee on the Niger Delta met at the State House, Presidential Villa Abuja to review the progress of the amnesty programme.

While reacting to a question on the perceived failure of the programme because of the absence of ailing Nigerian President Musa Yar’Adua, during a question and answer session with the media, the Minister described those who had such views as being ignorant of the process of the amnesty programme.  He asserted that the programme could not be compared to a 100 meters race and called for patience to enable the government conclude the programme satisfactorily.

"It is unfortunate that people are making that kind of statement that amnesty has failed. To me that kind of comment is premised on ignorance, this is because the amnesty programme itself is a process; it is not a hundred meter dash. And people would need to exercise patient and allow the drivers to give their best, that is all that the country is asking for."

Continuing he said, "What brought about the amnesty is as a result of what took place several years so, you cannot clear it in a few months. You need to do detailed planning for every step that you take, for every kobo that you must expend. You must be sure that you are going to get value for money."

While reacting to a question on MEND, Abbe said the recent threat by fighters to resume hostilities in the region was unfortunate adding that it was unpatriotic for anybody or group to continue to threaten the security of the country with violence. While Firing a warning shot at MEND, Abbe said the central government may go all out against the group if it continues to threaten to attack oil installations in the region, noting that MEND was a tiny faction amongst several former militant groups operating in the area.

"If they choose violence, they do not monopolize violence, an ill wind that would blow no one any good including themselves. It is unpatriotic for anyone to continue to threaten the security of this country with violence, fire, hail and brimstone. I have asked before, that we should allow peace to take a chance because that is the only opportunity this country has to develop."

"If MEND says it has called off cease-fire that is there own side but we know that MEND is only one part of the numerous clusters of militant groups that exist in the Niger Delta region," he concluded.

The fact remains that the central government’s amnesty deal has suffered a huge setback because of the President’s long absence, which has left no one really in charge of the executive arm of government. His refusal to transfer power to the Vice President who is from the Niger Delta area has fueled tension in the area and the entire country.

Royal Dutch Shell suffered its first major attack on Saturday after MEND called of the cease-fire deal.