Beneficiaries warn FG on plan to end amnesty

Beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta youths have asked the Federal Government to rescind its decision to phase out the programme.

They warned that phasing out the programme would have adverse implication for the country.

Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council, Abuja chapter, Ebizimor Preye, told reporters after a meeting of the council with some beneficiaries that the amnesty programme was founded to address legitimate grievances.

He argued that since it was a deal struck by government and stakeholders in the oil producing region to reduce violent confrontations with the Nigerian state, it could not be phased out arbitrarily.

“The amnesty programme can be likened to a long awaited medical treatment regimen, which if not completed in terms of recommended dosage, appropriate duration and clinical tracking or which if prematurely and unwisely terminated can lead to a more dangerous relapse of the ailment to the affected part of the body and with grave consequences to the entire system.

“While the amnesty programme cannot last forever it is more of a journey than a destination and should be handled accordingly without premature, ill-thought or rigid terminal processes because healing is gradual, especially when wounds are deep and severe as with the Niger Delta,” Preye said.