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UDUAGHAN TELLS EX-MILITANTS TO BE COMMITTED TO POST AMNESTY PLAN
This amnesty plan ended over a month ago precisely on October 4 and during the period there have been various challenges. The post- amnesty period is the most difficult to manage, I plead that we should remain committed to the post- amnesty plan. The violent phase of the crisis is over, how to solve the issue of the Niger-Delta is still on ground. We should be properly organized to solve this problem, Governor Uduaghan said. Dr. Uduaghan who was speaking at a meeting of leaders of former militant groups in the Niger-Delta region (Tuesday) to deliberate on ways to sustain the peace and post-amnesty programme of the Federal government, highlighted the post amnesty plan of the Federal Government to include the rehabilitation and re-integration of former militants through a committee headed by Minister of Defense, Major General Godwin Abbe (rtd.). Governor Uduaghan explained that the Federal government has directed that massive infrastructure development be carried out in the region by various ministries and agencies. The issue of equity participation of host communities in the oil industry was also being considered as part of the post -amnesty plan, he said. The Governor noted that the State also had put in place its post- amnesty plan which involved the strengthening of the operations of DESOPADEC in Oil Producing Communities by being involved in different developmental projects in the communities like the re-building of Okerenkoko. Speaking further, he informed the former militants that the state government has not given any money to Tompolo for his personal interest, that he was fighting for the interest of the Niger-Delta people and as such any arrangement by the state government for the former militants would embrace all that accepted the amnesty plan. It is important that whatever arrangement will be made by the state must cover everybody that has accepted the amnesty. I have not given any money to Tompolo, he said. The meeting which was organized by Ateke Tom and hosted by Government Ekpemuokpolo (Tompolo) was held in Effurun Delta State, with the State. In a welcome address, Chief Ekpemuokpolo appealed to his colleagues to be patient with the Federal Government on the post- amnesty plan which he noted would take some time to execute. He pleaded with them to desist from kidnapping and other criminal tendencies that could disrupt the federal government plan to develop infrastructure in the region. His words l dey beg everybody, my fellow commanders, as we don drop our guns, make we bear with Federal Government because the development plan wen dem don start for Niger-Delta go take some years to fulfill. Make we no thwart government effort as dem dey try to develop our area, make we no go dey kidnap people wen dey do the work, e no go help us ooh. Tompolo advised the former militant leaders to represent the interest of their people at all times particularly at meetings with the Federal and State governments adding that they should not betray their people as this act will disrupt the peace and post amnesty plan. Speaking further, Chief Ekpemuokpolo called on his people to shun all forms of evil plan and be part of the success of the amnesty plan adding that they should co-operate to make the plan a success. According to him l dey beg una my fellow commanders not to be part of any evil plan or accept any evil advice from anybody against the post amnesty plan. We have freedom now in the region. God has given us this freedom, we should not spoil it.   
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