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Fresh war appears eminent for non- inclusion of real Combatants Ex militants belonging to second phase. The group of ex-militants has called the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Programme, Hon Kingsley Kuku w to pay their allowance as due to them – for the interest of peace and their lives.
The group in a statement signed by Commander Darikoro Suokoro, its spokesman warned amnesty office agitating not to include them for their payment from the amnesty programme should prepare for another oil war in the area as they will no longer wait in empty promises any
more.
According to the spokesman, they were called to Obubra Camp in Cross River State for their training. And at the conclusion of the training, they returned home. While at the training, they received their allowance for three months – but after three months of receiving their allowances the amnesty office stopped further payment to them.
The group said they will not embark on any street protest to stop other road users but that they will return to the creek to continue their life since Kingsley Kuku deliberately refuses to continue their payment of allowances.
“We went for the training at Obubra and came out successfully, we were asked to open an account in the Bank were allowances were paid to us over three months and since then the payment stopped, the office could not explain to us till now. This is no threat. We will go back to the creeks to earn our previous living as payment of our allowances is no longer guarantees of what we have learned,” Commander Darikoro lamented.
The group of aggrieved militants warned that the Federal government should bear any consequence as a result of their going back to the creeks, stressing that, they are ready to face whatever that may happen since they have sacrificed their life to that and will not be afraid of anything.
When 247ureports.com contacted one of the involved official responsible for the disbursement of the allowance, General John Esuku of Egane Camp under Ekeremor Local Government area of Bayelsa State, he confirmed that the majority of the aggrieved ex-militants were approved by the Amnesty Office – and were sent for the Obubra training camp – where they also received their allowances through their Bank accounts. General Esuku added however that there appears a mix up. He stated that the officials from the amnesty office registered ex-military above the
specified number that was approved by the Federal government, that is, six thousand one hundred and sixty six (6,166). Also, some military officers – especially the Army and the villagers – engaged in sharp practices by bring-in their persons to be registered as an ex-militant at the camp.
Names were sent to the amnesty office by those actually accredited by various camps by their general, names were called at the Obubra camp and if the actual person that was called in for the training is not present, the military in connivance with officials from the amnesty office will change the names [which was earlier submitted by the generals] – to the name of one of their wards.
Due to transportation and vehicles problem, some of the ex-militants arrived late. But when subsequently arrive, they organizers were said to vehemently refuse to accept the person. The organizers – in refusing the ex-militant – will tell the ex-militant that his name has been substituted with another. And when asked why, the organizers responded, “when we have changed it is changed, don’t ask unnecessary questions here, go and leave this place now for your own interest, the officials warned.”
Talking for the sake of solution, General Esuku said the only solution to this problem will be to call them (boys) to order and send them for their training since they are all from the Niger delta region. Since the documentation was higher than what was specified by the government, that is, the nine thousand four hundred and fifty (9,450) persons, the actual six thousand one hundred
and sixty six persons by my appeal to the federal government, release fund to the amnesty office to enable Kingsley kuku to pay the remaining Transition Allowances to the actual freedom fighters.
Also, Hon. Kingsley Kuku should be aware of those that are working with him of their unscrupulous character that have bedeviled the amnesty office of fictitious names that they have used in manipulating the payment vouchers.
