By Sunday Apah
Special Correspondent, Ughell
A group, Niger Delta Youth Peace Initiative Movement (NDYPIM) has appealed to the Federal Government to extend the amnesty programme that is scheduled to end 2015 to 2019.
In a statement by the president and publicity secretary of NDYPIM, Mr. Ebikabowei Edon and Donald E. Etiete, respectively, the group said the appeal became necessary following a carefully survey and analysis it carried out on the Amnesty programme and its implementation, stressing that it has not fully realized its purpose. It further stated that thousands of ex-warlords are undergoing studies at home and abroad and those attending skills acquisition programmes were yet to graduate and most of them would graduate beyond 2015. The statement reads: “Against this backdrop, we are appealing to the Federal Government to extend the programme to 2019. Such would enable the ex-agitators successfully complete their respective programmes. No amount spent on the extension would be too much following the huge economic benefit accruing from the Niger Delta region”. The statement commended the chairman of the presidential Amnesty programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, for his prudent and credible manner of managing the Amnesty programme funds, saying that President Goodluck Jonathan appointed the right man for the job.
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