Amnesty And Niger Delta Militancy

(Published by THE SUN NEWSPAPERS of 23 November,2016)
By Carl Umegboro
THE federal government amnesty programme initiated by the late Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration undeniably chronicled colossal feats and ultimately fetched succours to the beneficiaries as projected.  Admitted, the programme as a palliative mechanism demonstrated thoughtfulness to an extent in addressing the protracted imbalances in the polity which resulted to militancy in the Niger-Delta environs especially kidnap, indiscriminate destruction of oil pipelines, among other vices. Commendably, the initiative was appropriate by prevalent circumstances then, but subsequently necessitated paradigm shift.
The successive administrations ought to substitute the amnesty programme with broader interventionist packages capable of providing optimisms to aggregate Niger-Delta people, and concurrently promotes societal norms. The reason is simple. The existing programme is indirectly a crime bolster since only identifiable criminal-minded persons benefit from the packages.  Hence, to be enlisted, proofs of criminalities are requisite. Eligibility in the scheme ought to not perpetually anchor on idiosyncrasies but indigenity. At this point, disbursements should be on gyratory slots across the communities; and clearly reflect all-inclusiveness.
Aptly, government is a continuum, thus, to retain such ingenious initiatives by successive administrations is a desideratum. Nonetheless, scheduling is pivotal to its effective sustainability. Goals are usually absolute but modes, vastly flexible. The preliminary technique as strategically designed towards arresting the ugly situation by providing amnesty packages; thereby impounding lethal weapons in their possessions and getting them engaged with vocational skills for livelihood is fantastic; however, to keep to the frequency would defeat the objectives and continuously do more harm to the society, particularly on the crumpling economy.
On account of that, in most cases, criminalities are usually deliberate and committed as prerequisites by aspiring beneficiaries to sign-up with the scheme. In situations where crimes are committed without detection, the culprits persistently repeat actions to get noticed; to secure endorsements, disappointedly as felons, militants, kidnappers, name it. Until such identification is actualized and they are convincingly certified, the society continues to face their wraths. Thus, by its continuance, the government is unconsciously endorsing lawlessness in the society since identifying with a militancy group opens doors for government’s recognition for stipends, scholarships and other incentives. Be that as it may, cessation or militarization is completely out of it except balanced modifications.  To use extreme military actions against a group that roar over prolonged injustice may proliferate the crisis beyond imagination.
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should preemptively step-up with more attractive and result-oriented packages for all-inclusive people of the geopolitical zone instead of constricting it to militants. It’s irrational for cool-headed persons with standard societal norms to be isolated while the lawless-class is treated positively by the government. Candidly, archetypal of enigma cum aberration! The contemporary incentives should be aimed at impacting positively on the lives of the people without discrimination. If not, more militants groups will show up in different identities and with intense havocs looming even if dialogues with the existing groups succeed. How could there be absolute ceasefire where gentlemen are mocked, abandoned and tagged sluggish for not carrying guns in the region wittingly for induction into the amnesty programme while those that abysmally dared are enlisted, empowered and celebrated; thus posting opportunities inside calamities at the detriment of the society. The excesses of the militants should be pigheadedly, but subtly confronted.
The Avengers and other groups that had threatened everything except to pull down the heaven; throwing bombs sporadically as yuletide knock-outs, are merely targeting at one direction; enrolment into the federal government amnesty payroll like their allies, and more will continue to queue up, after all,  what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander. Thus, the government needs to get back to the drawing table for a review towards restoring the polity to normalcy. Suffice to say, NDDC should expeditiously rebrand the packages after the Niger-Deltans instead of militants, albeit, that’s if allotments will get to the average people, and not hijacked by influential politicians who are insatiable with wealth, perhaps with ‘Buharism’ entrenched as a rheostat.
Umegboro, public affairs analyst and social crusader 

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