By Amb. Timi Coleman Fhnr
In September 11th 2019, I begin the search to fundamentally juxtapose the reoccuring shenanigans as to who truly “initiated the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP)” that’s benefitting thousands of Niger Delta Youths.
This article will also look at the overall assessment on the impact of the Amnesty Programme after 15 years of implementation in the Niger Delta Region (NDR)
Presidential Amnesty Programme was created by late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2009 to tackle Youth restiveness and febrile ambience of the region, leading to intermittent shutdown of oil exploration operations and sharp decline in crude oil output with corresponding drop in petro-dollar accruals. The programme was centred around three main Cardinals; Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR).
PAP was therefore designed to deradicalize restive Youths in the region, train them through various capacity building initiatives and have them mainstreamed into the larger society.
WHO TRULY INITIATED THE PAP
It took me five good years through calls, messages, WhatsApp and Facebook opinion sampling to deduce this conclusion. Though, it’s subject to review with strong and superior opinion.
It’s pertinent to note that the struggle to achieving PAP was a collective grapple. However, there are some personalities from the Niger Delta Region who consistently advocated, played key roles towards actualising the programme.
Between 2006 to 2007 Dr. Igali Boladei was appointed Adviser and Liaison Officer on Niger Delta to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and was later appointed by late President Umar Yar’adua. At that time, following the pitch height in militancy, as a result of the incarceration of both late DSP Alamieyeseigha and Mujahid Asari Dokubo. Dr. Igali was also appointed by Ijaw Elders led by Chief EK Clark to lead a 15 member committee of retired Ijaw military generals, and some activists including Ann Kio Briggs to engage the freedom fighters to down weapons. The Ijaw leaders felt obliged to do so as the national economy was bleeding on account of low oil production at 800 bpd. Same time the region was heavily militarized and wanton attacks on innocent villagers on the pretext of looking for militants.
Dr. Igali and other Ijaw leaders visited a total of 27 Camps in six states within three months and had good sessions with all our agitators on the reasons to accept Amnesty. The agitators on the other hand registered their fears and fate if they come out. That is, will they be prosecuted?, will they be summarily killed by army and police?
After several engagements Dr. Igali reported to his boss former President Obasanjo to grant General Amnesty to enable the agitators come out from the forest. But former President Obasanjo was reluctant. However on February 27, 2007, at the last session of Presidential Summit of Coastal States, which was attended by all the Governors of the region along with other opinion leaders and activists, agitators, Dr. Igali shocked his boss President Obasanjo, while giving an overview of the state of the region, that ultimate peace was only possible by the granting of General Amnesty! That is when the matter first came up.
When President Yar’adua took office May 29, 2007, Dr Igali was reappointed as his Adviser on Niger Delta and Liaison Officer to the Militants. Dr Igali after receiving his appointment continued to push for the actualisation of PAP.
Furthermore, Late President Yar’Adua invited late Professor Tekena Tamuno and Dr. Igali to see him on two occasions, early in the life of his administration to discuss Niger Delta and the question of Amnesty. During the first meeting, Late President Yar’Adua vowing that he will do everything to save Niger Delta becoming another Somalia. At both occasions, President Yar’adua, Prof Tamuno and Dr. Igali agreed that Amnesty should be proclaimed in October 2007 on the occasion of a visit to the Niger Delta (specifically to Warri) which Dr. Igali was to arrange. Eventually the visit never took place.
In September 2007, Dr. Igali was informed by SGF to late President Yar’Adua Amb. Babagana Kingibe, based on the request for Amnesty, that the office of Adviser on Niger Delta would be phased out and the Office of the Vice President would henceforth handle all Niger Delta Affairs.
Due to the latest move Dr. Igali prepared his Handing over note, including the thoughts on the question of General Amnesty and submitted them to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President, then occupied by Chief Mike Oghiadomhe. Subsequently, Dr. Igali returned to his Diplomatic Service from where he was loaned to the Presidency since 2005, and got posted out of the country as a Career Ambassador to the Scandanavia.
Thereafter, the Niger Delta Peace Committee headed by late Sen. David Brigidi, the Leduum Mitee Committee, Gen Abe Committee, etc. Also did very good works towards establishing PAP.
In early July 2009, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua GCFR was on an official visit to Norway to participate in the annual meetings of the ‘Oslo Forum’ of which he is a key member. Dr Igali Ambassador to Norway, was with him throughout. In course of the visit, he indicated that one of his main reasons for attending was also to discuss Niger Delta with Dr Igali as things were “getting out of hand”. On hindsight, the military had bombed Gbaramatu kingdom and several places just a month earlier in May, 2009. Interestingly enough, then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan was on official visit to the Scandanavian on an investment tour which Dr Igali had arranged. Following a phone call from Pa EK Clark, he cut short the planned four nation trip and rushed back to Nigeria. Sweden, Denmark and Finland were covered, Norway was cancelled.
Suffice to say that former President Obasanjo and late President Yar’Adua expressed pains over the state of affairs in the Niger Delta and the vision which they both shared for the good of the area, even when some enemies of Niger Delta region suggested the region be wiped out.
On the resolve to creating PAP according to report Dr. Igali was contact to pick up the mantle of coordination but he pleaded to be allowed to continue his diplomatic duties. Other names were recommended and finally Air Vice Marshal Lucky Ochuko Ararile was appointed the pioneer coordinator of PAP 25th June, 2009.
Other Coordinators of the PAP was Hon. Kingsley Kuku 2011, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh 2015, late Prof. Charles Dokubo 2018, Rtd Colonel Milland Dikio 2020, Maj. Gen. Barry T Ndiomu 2022 and the current coordinator Chief Dennis Otuaro
Clearly, many cooks have been involved in the question of Amnesty. From when the idea was initiated and now, a lot has happened. The scope, context and content the idea was triggered has also fundamentally changed. What is important is that it has brought peace to the region.
From records, the first agitator to drop arms and embrace Amnesty was Chief Joshua Maclver.
Other Niger Delta leaders who contributed immensely to the establishment of PAP are : Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Chief Timipre Sylva, Chief EK. Clarke, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, Chief Timi Alaibi, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, Ann Kio Briggs, Late DSP Alamieyeseigha, Sen. David Brigidi, among others
ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF PAP AFTER 15 YEARS
Environmental Assessment:
The Niger Delta region’s launch of the amnesty programme wasn’t made with addressing environmental deterioration in mind. It was established in 2009 as a means of resolving the protracted war between the Nigerian government and agitators operating in the area who were vying for more authority over the oil wealth of the area. The amnesty programme has had some favorable effects on the ecology in the area. As a result of the initiative, there has been less violence and unrest in the area, which has made it simpler for business and government to solve environmental issues. For instance, the government has been able to start a small number of clean up initiatives in areas afflicted by pollution and oil spills. The Niger Delta region faces numerous obstacles in the fight against environmental deterioration, and the amnesty programme has not been able to adequately overcome these obstacles. The lack of coordination and cooperation among the numerous regional players is one of the main challenges. This comprises local communities, oil firms, and government organizations, all of which can have competing agendas and interests. Lack of resources and experience to solve the environmental issues in the area is another significant problem. The Nigerian government and foreign donors have started various attempts to deal with these problems, but development has been uneven and slowly (Alagboso & Nwankwo, 2019).
All things considered, it is obvious that the amnesty programme has not
been adequate to address the intricate and entrenched environmental issues in the Niger Delta region. Although while the programme has had some positive effects, it was not explicitly created to combat environmental degradation, and the region still faces many complicated problems. Although the Amnesty Programme has made some progress in reducing violence and fostering economic growth in the area, it is not a panacea for the Niger Delta’s many pressing issues.
Economic Development: The Niger Delta region was meant to benefit economically from the Amnesty Programme. Even while significant progress has been made, more work remains. The programme has drawn flak for putting too much emphasis on quick fixes rather than long-term sustainable growth. For instance, the government gave cash rewards to former militants without necessarily developing companies or occupations that would offer a long-term remedy for poverty and unemployment.
Corruption: One of the biggest problems in the Nigeria (Ejumudo and Ikenga, 2015) and the Niger Delta, in particular continues to be corruption. The Amnesty Programme has been under fire for serving as a tool for political favoritism and corruption, with some beneficiaries being non-intended ex-militants. Some beneficiaries have not received the training or instruction they were promised, and there have been accusations of money being diverted.
Environmental Degradation: The issue of environmental deterioration in the Niger Delta region has not been sufficiently addressed by the Amnesty Programme. The region’s population’s health and way of life are still impacted by environmental problems such gas flare ups, oil spills, and environmental degradation. The Amnesty Project offered some monetary compensation for environmental harm, but it did not deal with the root causes of the issues.
Human Capital development:
In addition, the amnesty programme has given many former militants who had been involved in oil bunkering access to employment possibilities and training. They have been able to develop skills through the programme that will help them find legal employment. As a result, fewer people are engaged in oil bunkering activities, since many have opted for legal means of obtaining a living instead of engaging in these criminal activities. Oil bunkering nonetheless continues to be a serious issue in the Niger Delta despite these measures.
Since the amnesty programme was not created to address the underlying causes of the problem, some opponents contend that it has not been effective in resolving the problem of oil bunkering. Instead, it was primarily concerned with arming terrorists and giving them alternate sources of income.
In conclusion, the amnesty programme has made a dent in the problem of oil bunkering in the Niger Delta. The programme has provided education, training, and employment opportunities to ex-militants, which has contributed to a reduction in the number of people involved in illegal oil activities. However, there is still much work to be done in addressing the root causes of the problem and fully eradicating oil bunkering in the region.
HAS PAP DEVELOPED NIGER DELTA REGION?
The programme has undermined its effectiveness in promoting development in the region. Here are some specific cases and examples of how corruption has impacted negatively on the success of the amnesty programme:
1 Embezzlement of funds: There have been many instances of money intended for the amnesty programme being embezzled. For instance, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Paul Boroh, a former coordinator of the Amnesty Project, of defrauding the programme of N2.3 billion ($6 million) through fraud and embezzlement in 2018. This kind of corruption causes the misappropriation of funds that may have been used to benefit former militants through support groups, job possibilities, and training.
2 Politicization of the programme: Politicians have manipulated the
amnesty programme to reward their allies and followers. As a result, those who are not qualified are included in the programme while those who are qualified are excluded. This indicates that the initiative is being used as a tool by politicians to hold onto power rather than serving its intended aim of assisting and training ex-militants.
Stipends are expected to be paid to former militants who have completed training under the amnesty programme to enable them launch their own enterprises. Yet, there have been instances where these stipends have not been paid, leaving the ex-militants disappointed and short on cash to launch their enterprises. This is typically brought on by the misappropriation of money intended for stipends.
3 Failure to monitor progress is another factor identified as militating against the amnesty programme. The amnesty programme was launched to encourage regional development in the Niger Delta. Unfortunately, there has been a failure to keep track of how well the programme’s trained ex-militants are doing. This makes it challenging to assess whether the programme is successful in fostering regional development.
4 Corruption: as some officials may stand to gain from the absence of oversight.
5 Mismanagement of resources:
Resources intended for the support and training of former militants have been misused. For instance, there have been instances where training materials were auctioned off or used for private purposes. This type of corruption is detrimental to the programme, as it means that the
ex-militants are not receiving the training and support they need to reintegrate into society.
In conclusion, the effectiveness of the amnesty programme in fostering development in the Niger Delta region has been negatively impacted by corruption. It has resulted in money being diverted, the programme becoming politicized, stipends not being paid, no progress being tracked, and poor resource management.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Nigeria’s Niger Delta region has long been marred by violence and underdevelopment.
The Amnesty Programme, which aims to rehabilitate ex-militants and foster development in the area, is one programme that has been put in place to solve these problems.
The following point-by-point suggestions might be taken into account to make sure that this initiative is successful in fostering growth in the Niger Delta Region:
A. Ensure Transparency: The Amnesty Programme should be open and honest in all of its transactions, including the methods used to choose recipients, how funding and resources are allocated, and how different development projects are carried out. Transparency can inspire active participation from the local communities and help to increase trust and confidence in the
programme.
B. Prioritize Education and Skills Acquisition: Beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme should place priority on their education and skill development. They will acquire the knowledge and abilities needed to establish independent living conditions. To give recipients access to high-quality education and training opportunities, the programme can collaborate with regional educational institutions and career training facilities.
C. Focus on Agriculture and Entrepreneurship: Large tracts of arable land and other resources are abundant in the Niger Delta region and can be used for agriculture. The Amnesty Programme can help participants establish profitable agribusinesses by providing them with
land, seeds, fertilizers, and other essential inputs. By giving beneficiaries access to start-up financing and business development services, the programme can help promote entrepreneurship.
D. Partner with Local Communities: Local communities should work with the Amnesty Programme to determine their unique development needs and objectives. As a result, community ownership and sustainability will be encouraged and development programmes will be customized to the unique needs of the local communities.
E. Promote Peace and Security: The Niger Delta Region has a history of violent conflicts and unrests, which has hindered development. The Amnesty Programme should work to promote peace and security in the region, by engaging ex-militants, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders to promote a culture of peace and dialogue.
F. Monitor and Evaluate Progress: The Amnesty Programme should regularly monitor and evaluate its progress in promoting development in the Niger Delta Region. This will help to
identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for improvement, and will enable the programme
to adjust its strategies as necessary.
G. The need for upward review of the monthly stipend to match the present economic reality
