There are fears that the ongoing amnesty programme instituted by the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for the repentant Niger Delta warlords might be scrapped, hence the beneficiaries have appealed to General Muhammadu Buhari to keep the programme afloat.

Participants at the programme, which was conceived to reintegrate the e-militants into the wider Nigerian society and bring means of livelihood to them, also said General Buhari should sustain the pipeline surveillance contract and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Third Phase Amnesty Leaders on Tuesday appealed to the incoming administration of Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) not to scrap the amnesty programme, the pipeline surveillance contract and the NDDC which they said were the only tangible benefits being enjoined by the people of the oil rich region.

Addressing journalists in Ughelli, Delta State, National Secretary of the body, ‘Gen’ Tam Odogwu, said the call has become necessary as the amnesty programme and the NDDC with the pieline surveillance contract were the only tangible being enjoyed by the people of the South South region of Nigeria.

They said the relative peace being enjoyed in the Niger Delta region was made possible and sustained by the interventionist mechanisms of the federal government.

Pledging their unalloyed support for the incoming administration, Odogwu stated that “the 1,338 third phase ex-militant leaders expressed their appreciation to the Chairman of the presidential amnesty committee, Mr. Kingsley Kuku for his efficient management of the amnesty programme which has recorded unquantifiable successes.

“We however frown at the empowerment package approved by the National Assembly through the efforts of Kingsley Kuku because it is grossly insufficient, considering the large number of ex-militant leaders in the third phase. We therefore call on the incoming administration to review it.”

Disclosing that the third phase leaders were preparing to welcome President Goodluck Jonathan back home “after serving the country meritoriously,” Odogwu said. “We appreciate his statesmanship. We are proud of his giant strides and his recent conferment with the World Peace Ambassador for ensuring free, fair and credible elections in the country.”

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