LEADERS UNDERGO NON-VIOLENCE TRAINING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Leaders of former agitators in the Niger Delta returned to the country on Monday night from South Africa where they underwent non-violence/leadership and business development training.

Twenty one of the 33 leaders in the first batch of the training arrived aboard South Africa Airways alongside the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku.

The leader of the team, Reuben Wilson from Bayelsa State, who spoke to journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, said the training expanded the horizon of participants.

He said it afforded the delegates a first-hand opportunity to see other Niger Delta youths excelling as pilots and instructors at the African Union Aviation Academy in Mafikeng.

Wilson applauded Hon. Kuku’s leadership role in the Niger Delta and his focused management of the amnesty programme, which he said is a huge success.

“We, the leaders, are very happy with the Federal Government and Hon. Kuku for fulfilling another promise made to us when we accepted amnesty in 2009. We have now learnt how to resolve conflicts using non-violence principles and that is what we are going to be practising. We have given our commitment to the government to maintain peace in the Niger Delta and we are not going back on it.

W“Thirty three of us from the nine states in the Niger Delta travelled to South Africa for this training and I’m happy to report that everything went well. We are now back home as ambassadors of peace. What they taught us in South Africa is what we will take to our respective states,” he said.

The team leader listed the benefits of the programme to include the opportunity for Niger Delta youths to become commercial airline pilots.

"Some of our brothers, including my younger brother, are now commercial pilots and instructors. We never thought this could happen."

Head of Media and Communications in the Presidential Amnesty Office, Mr Daniel Alabrah, also told airport correspondents that the Kingian non-violence training was yet another opportunity to reinforce the message of non-violence as one of the solutions to the Niger Delta agitation for development.

He disclosed that the leaders were awarded certificates by the Emory University in the United States of America after they were personally trained by renowned American civil rights activist, ordained minister and compatriot of the late Martin Luther King Jr., Dr Bernard LaFayette.

The training was facilitated by the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN).

Alabrah said the amnesty programme continues to improve on its success story.

"When the amnesty programme started, a lot of people did not believe it would get this far. Today, our youths are being trained as commercial pilots and instructors in the aviation ind ustry. Others are getting internationally certified skills in various vocational fields aparom those that are in formal educational institutions in Nigeria and about 20 countries in the world,” he said.

FORMER AGITATORS IMPRESS LATE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR's COMPATRIOT

 Who says pleasant surprises are in short supply in the amnesty programme? Yesterday's violent agitators are before our very eyes becoming today's peace advocates and campaigners.

Today (Tuesday, 27 November, 2012 ), leaders of former Niger Delta agitators undergoing the Kingian Non-Violence/Leadership and Business Development Training in South Africa practically waoh-ed renowned American non-violence advocate, Dr Bernard LaFayette Jr., a compatriot and close associate of the late civil rights leader, Dr Martin Luther King Jr., with their understanding of the Kingian non-violence principle.

The leaders had made brilliant presentations (yes, 'Generals' in training) after their individual groups discussion on leadership values and non-violence principles. For this, they got a standing 'shake, shake, shake' from their trainers from the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN).

But hear Dr LaFayette: "I'm very impressed with your understanding of the concept of non-violence. You have all shown a very good grasp of the training you have received in just the first day. With what I see in these young men, there's hope for Nigeria.

"Already, I'm considering asking some of you to become trainers in non-violence principles (Another post-training engagement prospect, you would say). What that means is that you will join me to take this message to other parts of Africa and the world."

The training continues tomorrow.

The delegation (first batch of 31 leaders) will later visit places like the Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria, the aviation training schools in Mafikeng and Midrand, Cape Town, Soweto, and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, before returning to Nigeria.


DANIEL ALABRAH
Tuesday, 27 November, 2012

AMNESTY TRAINEES DESIGN VOLTAGE REGULATOR

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME

 

AMNESTY TRAINEES DESIGN VOLTAGE REGULATOR

 

Trainees under the Presidential Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta youths have recorded yet another feat, this time in Ghana as they have designed an electrical equipment that regulates power voltage.

 

Known as the Magnetic Box, it regulates low and high voltage with a built-in timer.

The equipment was among several other products displayed by the trainees at a mini-exhibition during their graduation from the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) in Accra.

 

One hundred and ninety eight (198) delegates underwent training in Welding and Fabrication, Electrical Installation, Auto Mechanic, and Plumbing/Pipe Fitting at five centres across the country.

 

Speaking at the event, an elated Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Ademola Onafowokan, said the feat achieved by the trainees was “another milestone in Nigeria’s endeavor to create a pool of skilled individuals.”

 

The envoy, who paid glowing tributes to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua for the amnesty initiative, said the graduates are living testimonies to the laudable vision of the Nigerian government.

 

“President Goodluck Jonathan and other Nigerians are very proud of these youths who have demonstrated resilience and hard work,” the High Commissioner said.

 

He advised them to synergise and work together to become self-reliant entrepreneurs and employers of labour with the skills they have acquired.

 

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, in his remarks, equally commended the trainees for their invention and innovativeness.

 

His words: “Many youths in the Niger Delta did not believe in the amnesty offer but you did. Today, some of your former colleagues are also in various institutions in Nigeria and overseas.

 

“The fact is that the amnesty programme is a success. Unfortunately, this has resulted in fresh agitation by youths in the Niger Delta who want to be part of the programme. Every day, youths in the region protest just because they want to belong to the programme. Now its success has become our albatross,” the PAP chairman said.

 

While thanking the Ghanaian government for its support for the programme, Hon. Kuku advised the graduates to think about how to be self-employed in partnership with their colleagues.

 

“Your vision should not be to look for government job,” he added even as he assured those who want to be entrepreneurs that the Amnesty Office will support them with tools and start-up packages.

 

Earlier, the NVTI Executive Director, Mr Stephen Amponsah, said the institute was happy to be a part of Nigeria’s effort to empower its youths through vocational skills.

 

According to him, vocational training is important to national development as it can stem the tide of criminal activities as well as alleviate poverty and generate employment.

 

Responding on behalf of the graduates, Mr Amachree Otelemaba, said they were initially skeptical about the amnesty programme.

 

“We thank President Goodluck Jonathan and our big brother, Hon. Kuku, for this opportunity given to us. We never knew the programme will be a success but we decided to try. Now we have been trained and have acquired skills in different areas, which will make us better in life,” he said.

 

Otelemaba appealed to the Nigerian government to create opportunities for engagement so they can put to use the skills acquired.

 

Dignitaries at the event included former Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, Senator David Brigidi, Ghana’s Minister of Interior, who was represented by Mr Sam Amankwah, Mr T.K. Gyau, and the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ghana/Chairman, NVTI Board, Prof. Richard Bani.

 

DANIEL ALABRAH

HEAD, MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY OFFICE

November 17, 2012

TIME FOR BIG BUSINESS IN NIGER DELTA- BY DANIEL ALABRAH

 http://newsdiaryonline.com/time-for-big-business-in-niger-delta-by-daniel-alabrah/

Following a memorandum by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on the growth and industrialization of the oil producing states in Nigeria, the Federal Government recently approved 44 projects for the Niger Delta. According to the Information Minister, Labaran Maku, the projects include the construction of roads, bridges (and) environmental projects as part of the phased development of the region. The projects are expected to spur economic development of the region.
The move represents a welcome response to calls on the Federal Government to apply the resounding success of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) as a lever for the limitless economic, industrial and social changes in the Niger Delta. The argument is that if peace is the outcome of amnesty, there must be a progression that we must refer to as the fallout of peace. The process does not terminate at the point where we have drawn on amnesty to achieve a cessation of hostilities and attained calm in the region.
There must be a continuum where the new thesis of peace must also give birth to a new set of enterprises. We must relate amnesty to the rubric of dialectics. Only then can we understand the full potential and advantages of what the scheme has offered the country and its citizens.
If the pre-amnesty era produced in the Niger Delta a horde of armed lords and their acolytes that were protesting the hijack of their God-given resources and the resultant clashes between them and the state crippled the nation’s economy and scared local and foreign investors, it follows that a post-amnesty era must logically have its own soil (conditions) of productive (non-destructive) result. We must see the Federal Government’s move on these 44 projects in the Niger Delta in that dialectical light.
Amnesty’s peace is not peace for the sake of peace. It is a soil in which we must sow seeds of development and investment. It is a soil from which will arise “a strong manufacturing base… so that we could offer opportunities for employment, innovations and dignified living to all Nigerians,” according to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku. The Niger Delta should now be the fulcrum of the country’s industrial development and partnership with foreign investors, thanks to amnesty.
To get an objective appreciation of what this piece is about, let us look at the pattern of Chinese economic intervention in Africa in recent years. China has been initiating apex-level contact with the continent lately. Recently, President Hu Jintao led economic-cum-diplomatic delegations to at least five African nations. He was in Nigeria, Tanzania, Mauritius, Senegal and Mali. A close check revealed that some of these were societies in transition, where after conflict resulting from challenges in nation-building, a definite path is now being chosen as an enduring foundation for progress.
The Chinese are a calculating lot. They engage in business in societies that have potential for growth; where there is peace and stability along with the generous provision of renewable resources and sustainable energy. Amnesty has the paved way for Nigeria to assume these magnets for investments. It is conceivable, therefore, that the Chinese, whose country has effectively emerged as the world’s second biggest economic player, would see Niger Delta’s bouquet of developmental invectives through the amnesty programme and the Federal Government’s initiative as a green light to invest in the area.

RIVERS: Ex-agitators Donate Relief Materials To Flood Victims

 

SUNDAY, 04 NOVEMBER 2012 00:00 FROM ANN GODWIN, PORT HARCOURT SUNDAY MAGAZINE - CITYFILE

 

TOUCHED by the effects of the raging flood in the Niger Delta, ex-agitators have raised N52.7 million among themselves to assist displaced victims. The amount was contributed by the 26,358 former militants, who were granted amnesty by the Federal Government.

The Guardian gathered that the group decided to give up N2,000 each from their monthly stipend in order to procure relief materials and help ameliorate the suffering of flood victims in the region.

Investigations at the various camps in Rivers State revealed there were inadequate mattresses, especially for children and pregnant women. There is also lack of potable water, shortage of foodstuff and toiletries.

At the camps, some of the inmates suffered mostly from diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia, cough, catarrh, and complications of anaemia and malnutrition.

Last week, in Ula-Upata Camp of Ahoada East local government area, a baby of about two years died of severe anaemia, as confirmed by doctors at the Ahoada General Hospital. This is due mostly to the over-crowded, poor living and sanitary conditions in the camp, as many children sleep on the bare floor or on thin sheets, which do not protect them from the cold tiled floor of the Model Primary School, recently built by the state.

Apparently concerned by the plight of victims, the ex-militants used the money they raised to procure items ranging from bags of rice, beans, garri, palm oil, tin tomatoes, toiletries, cartons of indomie noodles, mattresses, and treated mosquito nets, among others.

Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, Kingsley Kuku, while handing over the relief materials loaded in two trucks to the Rivers State Ministry of Special Duties, described the donation by the ex-agitators as exceptional and a great sacrifice, noting that some wealthy Nigerians had not considered it necessary to extend their care and love to the displaced; rather it was people who were written off that deemed it fit to lead the way in demonstrating genuine concern to the victims.

Represented by the Head, Reintegration Department and Technical Assistant of the Office of the Special Adviser, Lawrence Pepple, Kuku explained that similar items would be delivered to Bayelsa, Edo, Delta and Cross River states. “We are distributing the materials procured by the ex-militants according to the ratio of the worst affected areas from the statistics of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),” Kuku said.

While frowning at the alleged diversion of materials in various camps across the region, the presidential adviser noted that the relief items were procured directly by a committee set up by the Amnesty Office to avoid mismanagement of the funds.    He urged state governments in the region to ensure transparency in the distribution of the items donated, stressing that the gesture was a huge sacrifice from the ex-agitators.

The state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Emeka Nwogu, who received the items, expressed surprise at the gesture, saying he did not expect to receive such volume of materials from the ex-agitators.

“I am surprised getting these quantity of relief materials from the ex-militants. These are people who had been written off while some big men are out there enjoying themselves and have not contributed one kobo to assist the displaced persons. This is a big challenge to all of us and their action is commendable,” he said.

Also, Rivers Professionals led by Alagbo Ross George and Mr. Sibe Robbison have extended their love to the flood victims by donating relief materials to some camps across the state.

Worried by the continuous health hazards faced by the victims, the University of Port Harcourt Medical Students Association (PUMSA) in conjunction with its specialist doctors from its alumni, has embarked on medical outreaches to the internally displaced persons.

The group, last week, donated drugs, including anti-malaria tablets for adults and children, haematinics, anti-hypertensives, antibiotics, worm expellants, antibacterial and antifungal creams, painkillers, antibacterial soaps, toothpastes, toothbrushes, toilet rolls and sanitary pads.

According to the president of the group, David Briggs-Otto, the gesture was aimed at preventing the victims from contacting diseases, considering the unhygienic conditions in which they are forced to live in.

C’RIVER TO MONITOR EX-MILITANTS’ DONATION

November 1, 2012 by Mudiaga Affe 

Cross River State Government on Wednesday said it would monitor the distribution of the relief items donated to flood victims in the state by ex-militants.

Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Efiok Cobham, stated this on the premises of the state Emergency Management Agency in Calabar while receiving the materials from a delegation from the Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

No fewer than 26, 000 ex-militants from Niger Delta participating in the amnesty programme contributed N2,000 each amounting to N52.7m to assist flood victims in the country.

Among the items donated to flood victims in the state were eight cartons of seasoning, 35 cartons of milk, 15 bags of salt, 30 bags of garri, 20 cartons of diapers and 1, 300 pieces of mosquito nets.

Others were 60 containers of groundnut oil, 23 containers of palm oil, four bags of beans, 1,000 bags of sachet water and 40 cartons of noodles.

Cobham assured the leader of the delegation, Mr. Lawrence Pepple, that the materials would get to the victims.

He said, “I am touched by this contribution. This gesture speaks volume in many ways when you look at the background of those making the donation.”

KUKU CALLS FOR ESTABLIHMENT OF 3 TRAINING CENTRES FOR FORMER MILLITANTS IN N/DELTA

The Presidential Amnesty Office on Wednesday appealed to the Federal Government to establish three basic training centres in Niger Delta for former militants to reduce capital flight.
Mr Kingsley Kuku, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, made this call in Abuja when Mr Oluseyi Onafowokan, the Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
Kuku urged the Federal Government to expand its ambit of operations to set up at least three basic skill training centres for the former militants in the country.
He said that although the establishment of such centres was not part of the office’s mandate, but if the former militants were trained in the country, a lot of funds would be saved.
 ``The establishment of skill training centres is not part of our mandate. We don’t have that mandate as it operates now.
``However, it is one of the prayers we are making to President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly, where they can expand our ambit of operations by giving the amnesty office the power to set up at least three basic skill training centres in the region.’’
Kuku, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, said that if the Federal Government expanded its ambit of operations, the office would establish three basic training centres namely oil and gas and marine, basic skills and construction skill centres.
 ``It is our prayer to put these three centres in place in the Niger Delta. Most of the trainings that we are taking to some countries are resulting to capital flight and can be done in this country.
``It will keep the fund in Nigeria and a lot of Nigerians will be engaged. It will also bring back labour within our economy. This is what we are praying for.
``Again, in the 2013 budget, we are praying that we should be allowed to establish the centres instead of taking people abroad for training,’’ Kuku said.
The amnesty boss said that since the commencement of the amnesty programme in 2009, 393 former militants had graduated from various training institutions in Ghana.
They graduated from courses ranging from welding and fabrication, agriculture and fish farming, crane operation, maritime and drilling technology.
He said that currently, 383 of the former militants were  receiving training in Ghana.
Onafowokan said that the visit was to express the high commission’s support to the amnesty office and see how the amnesty programme would work for the betterment of the country.
The high commissioner commended the Federal Government for the continuity of the amnesty programme, saying, ``the idea will rejuvenate the whole Niger Delta and the Nigerian youths from all over.’’
He said that the visit was also to report to the Federal Government, the former militants’ brilliant performance in the various training institutions in Ghana.
``I have visited many of them.  I must confess that the amnesty office is doing a very good job because the boys are composed.
``I think this is a way of taking our boys off the streets and crimes and making them productive members of the society,’’ Onafowokan said.

393 EX-MILITANTS GRADUATE FROM TRAINING CENTRES IN GHANA

November 1, 2012 by Fidelis Soriwei 6 Comments

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has said 393 ex-militants undergoing reintegration under the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated from training centres in Ghana.

According to him, the ex-militants were trained in welding and fabrication, agriculture and fish farming, crane operation, maritime and drilling technology.

Thirty-eight of them, he said, were trained in film editing, photography, acting, film directing, cinematography at the National Film and Television Institute, Ghana, while 100 persons were trained as marine mechanics and refrigerator technicians at the Regional Maritime University.

Kuku, who spoke while playing host to the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Oluseyi Onafowokan, added that 200 others graduated from the National Vocational Training Institute, Kumasi, while another 45 trained in electrical installation, welding wood work and carpentry at Koforidua Institute.

He urged the President and the National Assembly to make provision for the Amnesty Office to establish quality training centres in the country.

He said, “We don’t have that mandate to have such centres now but, it is one of the prayers that that we are making to Mr. President. We are also doing so to the National Assembly to see if they can expand our ambit of operations by giving the Amnesty Office, the opportunity of setting up at least three training centres, one in oil and gas, marine technolgy, and basic construction skills.”

Also, Onafowokan commended the President and his aides for effectively implementing the programme, which he said had contributed greatly in reducing criminality in the Niger Delta.

The envoy, who commended the trainees for conducting themselves well during the exercise, urged them to exploit the opportunity offered by the government.

He said, “I like to stress the positive side all the time; the boys are level-headed, they are composed, and they are doing very fine. The other day, I attended the graduation ceremony of some of them in Accra and I was very proud to see those boys having gained something, getting certificates, wearing their academic gowns.”

Nigeria: Kuku Lauded Over Ex-Militants' Donation to Flood Victims

21 October 2012


Chairman of Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has been commended for encouraging former agitators in the Niger Delta to donate N52.7 million to flood victims in the region.
A statement by Alaowei Afro Biukeme, former governorship candidate of Mega People's Progressive Party, MPPP, in Delta State, said the gesture was a good lesson for present and future leaders of the Niger Delta.
He said: "I thank Mr. Kuku for helping to train the youths today to share what they have with others. If we don't want to produce another set of wicked generation of leaders that will continue to draw Niger Delta backward in the next 100 years then we must remove the winner takes it all mentality from our society."

 

HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE NIGER DELTA: CHALLENGES & PROSPECTS

By: Idumange John
Deputy President, Niger Delta Integrity Group


Being a Paper presented @ the Investiture of Hon. Kingsley Kuku–Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta & Chairman, Presidential Committee on Amnesty as the Maritime Man of the Year 2011 organized by the Board & Management of Maritime Media Limited
Date: Friday, March 30th, 2012
Venue: Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos
Time: 6.00p.m Prompt

EXCEPTS OF THE PAPER

A survey conducted by the Niger Delta Integrity Group, NDIG in 2011 shows that among all the Development Agencies in the Region, the Amnesty Programme under Hon. Kingsley Kuku has created more impact on the lives of the people than all other agencies put together, in the area of capacity-building. This finding has been corroborated by other active civil society organizations in the Region.

Generally, attempting any discourse on the human capacity building efforts in the NDR, bristles with three fundamental challenges. The first and the most obvious challenge is the familiar picture of poverty in the midst of plenty–which has generated renewed interest in the historiography of the Region, by local and international researchers. The repertoire of literature generated from these studies constitutes another battle ground for researchers. Verily, it has even become very trendy for some armchair critics and amateur researchers to engage in a blanket stigmatization of the NDR as volatile and restive – with flashpoints of conflict threatening the very fabric of the nation’s stability.

The second challenge is that of the resource curse hypothesis – which hinges on the e very solar-plexus of the type of strange federalism we operate. In his “Economies of Violence: Governable and ungovernable spaces in an oil nation” Michael Watts chronicles how the vile trinity of naked aggression, genocide and the violent law of the corporate frontier conspired to bear out the fearsome dialectics of blood and oil. Earlier Anderson (2001) posits that the power of fossil fuel and the politics of the capitalist West when he said “blood may be thicker than water, but oil is thicker than either”

The third challenge the fact that Nigeria is categorized as a failed State. Presently, Nigeria is widely regarded as a failed State even though the politicians may think otherwise. A failed state is one characterized non-provision of public services; widespread corruption and criminality; economic refugees and involuntary movement of populations; sharp, economic decline and mismanagement of public resources and wide spread poverty. Since 2005, the index has been published annually by the United States think-tank, Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy. Table II places Nigeria on the 14th position among 18 failed States. It is doubtful if our leaders are perturbed by belonging to this unenviable club of failed States.

Presidential Amnesty Programme & Capacity Building

Any discussion on the HCB in the NDR cannot be complete without a reference to the Amnesty Program. At the wake of 2009, militancy in the Niger Delta had reached its apogee and had virtually crippled Nigeria’s economy. Investment inflow to the upstream sub-sector of the oil industry had dwindled drastically. The frequency of hostage taking and violation of oil facilities had reached a frightening dimension. Invariably, foreign investors felt that since Nigeria’s capacity as Africa’s highest crude oil producer had been threatened, Angola and Ghana and South Africa were preferred as investment destinations to Nigeria. Intense militancy reduced Shell Petroleum Development Company’s production drop from one million bpd to about 250,000 bpd. Other oil majors such as ExxonMobil, TotalFina Elf, and Nigerian Agip Oil Coy also experienced heightened violation of their facilities. Apart from sabotage, oil siphon oil siphoning rackets and kidnappings Oil workers unions often embarked on strike to protest to protest insecure working environment or the release of kidnapped workers. In 2008 alone, it was estimated that Nigeria lost over 3 trillion Naira as a result of militancy in the Niger Delta.

It became imperative for Government to stabilize, consolidate and sustain security conditions in the Niger Delta as a pre-condition for promoting economic development in the area. Accordingly, the late President of Nigeria, the Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on June 25, 2009, proclaimed and granted unconditional amnesty to combatants in the Niger Delta. The principal terms of the amnesty included the willingness and readiness of militants to surrender their arms, unconditionally, renounce militancy and sign an undertaking to this effect. In return, the government pledged its commitment to institute programmes to assist the disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant militants.

The Federal Government gave unconditional amnesty to militants in the zone who agree to lay down their arms and assembled at screening centres within 60 days. Those willing to take part were offered a presidential pardon, participation in a rehabilitation program, and education and training in exchange for turning over their weapons. For three months, militant warlords held disarmament ceremonies, bringing out thousands of their followers and stacking their guns in public places. Rocket-propelled grenades, guns, explosives, ammunition and even a gunboat were all dumped. At the expiration of the 60-day grace period - by Sunday October 4, 2009, 20,192 Niger Delta militants had accepted the offer of amnesty.

Amnesty dialectically implies to restore the upset tranquilitas ordinis created by militancy, a restoration of moral equality has to be effectuated through a legal paternalism that reforms militants As Amstutz remarks: “This is achieved when offenders acknowledge their responsibility and victims refrain from vengeance and acknowledge empathy towards the former enemy” (Amstutz, 2005: 69). In the case before us the acclaimed offenders, namely, the militants acknowledged their responsibility by denouncing militancy, returning of arms, and resolved to be integrated into the community through rehabilitation. On the other hand, the victim – the Federal Government acknowledged this gesture and refrained from legal retribution and also extends a hand of friendship to the militants.

The amnesty offer accepted by of amnesty by the repentant militants was also predicated on the promise by government that the ex-militants would be reformed and reintegrated into civil society. The Federal Government also stated its determination to confront head-on the neglect and sundry developmental challenges that had bred the insecurity and militancy in the Niger Delta.

While it may be true that the PAP pursues national reconciliation, it does not squarely address the root of the crisis, namely marginalization, poverty of oil bearing communities, corruption and moral culpability of MNOCs. Again, government inability to address the issues of true federalism implies that Nigeria’s ruling elite and its profitable relationship with MNCs. In the words of Soyinka: “At such rare moment memory ceases to be a burden. It becomes a quiescent stock-taking, an affirmation of existence in the present and a resolve in defense of unborn generations” (Soyinka, 2000: 35).

From a humble beginning October 4th, 2010, the Presidential Amnesty Office has placed 2,185 ex-militants who have passed through the Obubra Camp till date about over 26,000 ex-combatants had undergone the non-violence training. Their placements were based on their expressed interests in areas such as pipeline welding, underwater welding, ocean diving, crane operations, oil drilling, automobile technology, fish farming and entrepreneurship – grocery, building materials, recharge card retailing and business centers operations.
Under the Special Adviser to the President and coordinator of the PAP Hon. Kingsley Kuku administration, the range of capacity building programmes has been extended to postgraduate studies in the natural and environmental sciences, training in piloting, shipping and other disciplines. While some of the youths who did not initially embrace the PAP allege that non-agitators are benefiting from the programmes, it should be appreciated that the programme was designed to rehabilitate youths from the Region.

Idumange (2011) opined that many militants missed the window from August to October 2009 and were not included in the amnesty programme. According Idumange (2010) there was widespread suspicion that the offer of amnesty was a trap and those who came forward would be arrested or executed, but once the benefits of the programme became apparent they wanted to join
The Programme Chief Hon. Kingsley Kuku has adopted a three-pronged approach. Firstly, he has mounted a vigorous campaign to rise of a class of intermediate manpower in under-water (Algon welding), piloting, seafaring and marine engineering. Most of the skills and vocations include: auto mechanics, Boat building, Safety programmes and ICT. Secondly, the Amnesty is bent on sponsoring Niger Delta Youths who are interested in acquiring higher education. Accordingly, the Programme has fully paid the fees of ND Students studying in the UK. Ukraine; Russia, South Africa and the United States. This kind gesture is to complement the various scholarship programmes embarked upon by the various States. Thirdly, the overriding objective is to train an army of middle and high caliber manpower to provide services in the various oil, gas and agro-allied industries. When these people are fortified with skills, the Region will not depend on crude oil alone as a source of foreign exchange.
The fact that the Amnesty programme is designed to diversify the economy is a unique development that appears to be reversing the Resource Curse in the ND Region. It is against this background that the Kingsley Kuku led Amnesty Programme has changed the economic contours of the Niger Delta Region. Indeed, the Amnesty Programme should be emulated by other development agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Basin Development Authorities and other international development partners such as UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF,etc. The principal goal is to create jobs for the youths, which has stifled development in the Region.

In discussing the fruits of the PAP, most people point at the primacy of economic benefits of increased oil production and relative peace in NDR. However, there are other intangible benefits that far outweigh the economic boom heralded by the PAP. The transformational activities offered by the PAP have extinguished the belief of the ex-agitators that resort to violence is more powerful than nonviolence. Ex-combatants have been relieved of the burden of violence and now, youths have been given the opportunity of ccareer guidance to realize their aspirations in terms of education, vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

With peace restored in the Region, oil companies and associated companies reopened shut-in wells. The result is that Nigeria’s oil production increased from 800,000 Barrels per day to 2.7 mbpd. With cessation of hostilities, government has assured the international community fill its OPEC quota and be trusted by major consumer nations to meet its contractual obligations. Oil bunkering reduced Signs that the process would succeed accelerated economic development across the nation. With renewed confidence in the international oil market, Nigeria has started to exercise enormous influence in OPEC. The increase in Nigeria’s quota of oil production is a result of reduced incidence of kidnapping, which provides the right environment for the repairs of oil and gas infrastructure damaged during the period of militant agitation. It has also provided ample opportunity for contractors handling developmental projects a lee-way to fast-track sustainable development in the NDR.

IJAW LEADER LAUDS KUKU OVER AMNESTY DONATION TO VICTIMS

Lagos –Ijaw leader and coordinator of Ijaw Monitoring Group –IMG, Comrade Joseph Evah has commended the Chairman of Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon Kingsley Kuku for encouraging former agitators in the Niger delta to donate a total of N52.7 million to flood victims in the region.
In a statement signed in Lagos, Evah said the gesture was a good lesson for present and future leaders of the Niger delta.
He recalled the IMG had earlier initiated the same method of the youths donating parts of their Amnesty allowance for the development of the region and for the support of the needy in the region.
“We thank Kuku for helping to train the youths today to share what they have with others. If we don’t want to produce another set of wicked generation of leaders that will continue to draw Niger Delta backward in the next 100 years, we must remove the evil spirit of winner takes it all mentality from our children.”
He urged all Niger Deltan to emulate Kuku and come up with ideas and programmes to assist victims of the ravaging flood in the region.

TEN GAINS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAM

 PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE OIL-RICH NIGER DELTA

INCREASE IN THE QUOTA OF OIL PRODUCTION

STEADY INCREASE IN THE NATION’S FOREIGN EXCHANGE

EMPOWERMENT OF YOUTHS THROUGH TECHNO-VOCATIONAL TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT

OFFERING HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS TO NIGER DELTA YOUTHS

REDUCTION OF VANDALIZATION OF OIL FACILITIES TO ALMOST ZERO LEVEL

ENTRENCHMENT OF DIALOGUE AS A MEANS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN OIL PRODUCING COMMUNITIES

INCREASE IN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE REGION

BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & GOVERNANCE

REDUCTION OF CRIME & CRIMINALITY IN THE REGION


LET US SUSTAIN THE GAINS OF THE AMNESTY PROGRAM!

AMNESTY PROGRAM: ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS OF THE FGN

BY JOHN IDUMANGE

The Ijaw nation can only be placed on the fast lane of development if we recognize the achievements of others, for failure to accord recognition to achievers is the surest way

to minimize the role incumbents and by extension, it is the easiest way to promote mediocrity and non-performance. In most organizations today, this very vital intrinsic aspect of motivation is sorely lacking hence management scholars often talk about work place spirituality to bridge the chasm between the expectations of role incumbents and organizational goals. Beyond the agitated realm of ideas lies the tranquil zone of practical demonstration of leadership; and acknowledging the achievements of others is one of the most significant qualities of good leadership…….. Idumange John

The article below is culled from an impartial analyst in the Niger Delta who made certain observations on the Amnesty Programme.

What is Unique about the Amnesty Programme?

I was at the Omagwa International Airport Port Harcourt, waiting as usual, to hear any announcements about either the arrival of an airplane or delay in the arrival of a plane and maybe outright cancellation of scheduled flights. While the waiting lasted, I overheard a couple of people six may be seven persons discussing the peace and successful strides the Amnesty Programme had achieved for the past one year. While about five of them endorsed the programme as a huge success, one of them bellowed “What is so unique about the Amnesty Programme, AP, and how is it different from other development initiatives? One of the discussants said since the baton of leadership changed, his initial picture of the AP also turned from pessimism to optimism. I see the new person as passionate and determined to improve the lot of the youths, he said. Then the announcement came that we should proceed for boarding.
One lesson I learnt, which has remained indelible in my mind is reaffirmation of the aphorism that everything rises and falls on leadership. It also occurred to me that the most enduring quality of a leader is to lead by example, which means having a feel of the people you are leading, knowing their plight, feeling their pulse and then understanding their psychology and instilling discipline in them. I also pondered that if lions from the wild can be tamed and domesticated, why not human beings – no matter the hostile. What raced through my mind was the dexterity, the passion and the spirit of service he Hon. Kingsley Kuku has inoculated into the youths. This is the never-give-up spirit that will make all Niger Delta Youths acquiring skills in Sri-Lanka, South Africa, Ghana, the Philippines, the United States of America, Ukraine, Russia etc succeed.
Any close watcher of the Amnesty Programme will attest to the fact that the impact of the programme is felt even in the air. While I attribute the momentum of the programme to robust commitment of the President Jonathan administration, part of the success story is a function of the handlers of the programme. I am told that no organization can be better than its leader, and a good leader not only conceives a vision but evolves the mission and strategy through which organizational goals are achieved. Significantly too, the ability of the leader to develop strong organizational culture enables people to buy into the vision and even run with it.

Whatever gains that have been made in the Amnesty Programme for the past couple of months should be seen as a vigorous pursuit of the overall transformational agenda of the Federal Government. The Federal Government has rolled out its economic agenda in which N880 billion has been earmarked for power; N300 billion for roads and N571 billion for investment in the oil sector. In his economic transformation blueprint, priority attention is accorded human capacity development; Information and Communication Technology and the development of intermediate manpower.
I peeped into the mechanics of the AP and identified some unique features, which are fifferent from other programmes such as School-to-Land; National Poverty Eradication Programme; the Graduate Employment Scheme and other failed national programmes. The first unique feature is the emphasis on skills acquisition. As the Chinese proverb rightly says “Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.” Past empowerment programmes never emphasized skills acquisition but employment without skills and a tokenistic approach towards empowering the youths, hence they failed and never endured. Those who conceived the laudable programmes never considered any sustainability criteria.

The second unique element of the AP is that it is based on the principle of peace and non-violence. The recipients received robust tutorials on non-violence and how best to acquire skills to be relevant the work place and the dynamics of the economy. One of the resource persons at the Obubura Training camp Professor Uwazie, the AP is a form of “peace education with social justice all around it” among students in the country, promised socio-economic development and would solve problems, added that it was also capable of inculcating leadership skills in the Nigerian youth. Governance and leadership had been an inherent problem among others in the Region, suggested that young graduates should be given leadership positions at local, state, national and international levels to display the peace knowledge they have acquired” he said!

The wide scope of the training components is also unique. The entire gamut of skills acquired by the recipients range from Ocean diving in Sri-Lanka; under-water welding in Ghana; Boat building and seafaring in the Philippines and piloting South Africa. Some Niger Delta youths are undergoing their postgraduate courses in Russia, Ukraine and the United States of America. A sizeable number of youths have been sent to South Africa. A substantial number of youths were also sent to Israel for agricultural training, India for ICT and to Poland, for crane operation and pipeline welding. These are skills that are of strategic economic interest, which the oil-rich region buoyed. The fact that oil production has risen to 2.8 billion barrels per day is an eloquent testimony that peace has returned to the hitherto beleaguered Region.
On a conservative estimate, a total of 20, 163 ex-militants in the Niger Delta region have been trained at the Post-Amnesty Training Camp and sent for skills acquisition. The training package is holistic in that it provided recreational facilities for the trainees, in addition to the existing ones.

More importantly, of all the critical success factors, the human element appears to be more pre-potent. The human element referred to here is the leadership traits of the Hon. Kingsley Kuku. The Amnesty Chief performs four key roles. Granted that his schedule of coordination and Monitoring is very demanding, he forges the interpersonal relationship and ensures that decisional premises are communicated to role incumbents across the hierarchy of the organogram. This logically leads to the creation and maintenance of interpersonal networks that facilitate the accomplishment of goals. Hon Kingsley Kuku’s dexterity is such that he knows every trainee in any country by his or her first name. This way, he builds a very strong organizational culture, which serves as a linchpin for building trust and growth.
Similarly, the Amnesty Chief dissociates himself from minor functions except they are related to planning, organizing leading and controlling. He is like Marx Weber of sort who holds tenaciously to the tenets of impartiality. He does not interfere with the functions of subordinates. Kuku has developed an uncanny ability to understand and manage emotions in interpersonal relationship. This of ossifies the bonds of trust and confidence among the workers across hierarchy. In addition, the Amnesty Chief is imbued with high analytical ability to solve complex problems. When this is added to his emotional intelligence of cementing relationships, it logically follows that he does self audit, self appraisal blended with superb communication skills.
While I am not in the least ready to eulogize Kingsley Kuku’s administrative abilities, there are some personal qualities that make him these personal qualities are underpinned by sound ethos. That is why the reward system is based on productivity, performance rating and other competencies. I have understudied him and my conclusion is that while his position as a former Law Maker provides a very sound basis for his leadership role, he is also driven by an inner passion- a passion to burst the performance ceiling irrespective of the odds facing his projects. Career choice is also another gift. He does not allow only the experts to do the selection; he gets himself involved in choosing what is best for the recipients.

Perhaps the most unique thing about the Amnesty Programme is that the helmsman runs an open system, which provides a synch between the environment ala the output, the process and the output. At the input end, the Amnesty programme manages people money, materials and technology; these are fed into the organization, the result is a work flow that, which is the transformational process. The output we are expecting are the skilled pipe-line welders, seafarers, marine engineers, boat builders, the ICT experts, pilots and other skilled workers capable of manipulating economic processes.
In summation, the Kingsley Kuku led amnesty programme has rebuilt confidence in both oil-bearing communities and the MNCs and this has redefined community development and governance. The PAP has reduced vandalization of oil facilities and this has brought about enduring peace in the oil-rich Region. The prevailing peace has led to a steady increase in the Nigeria’s quota of oil production and the culmination is the robust foreign exchange profile of the nation. Investors are now comfortable of investment security and this will boost FDI in the Region. The youth empowerment component of the PAP is monumental.
In a dynamic global economy, I think and strongly so that the Amnesty Programme constitutes a comprehensive model for skills acquisition and capacity building in the West African sub-region, which economies are lagging. Ultimately, the Amnesty Programme operators will constitute the engine room for building skills and capacities. These are the programmes and methodologies that make the Amnesty programme UNIQUE. With the sustainability indicia ingrained in it, the Nigerian Amnesty Programme shall be a toolkit for skills development programme in continental Africa.

FLOOD: EX-AGITATORS DONATE N52.7M TO VICTIMS

 

Former agitators in the Niger Delta have donated the sum of N52,716,000 (Fifty Two Million Seven Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Naira) to victims of the flood disaster in the region.

Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Hon. Kingsley Kuku, who disclosed this, said the 26,358 amnesty beneficiaries in Phases One and Two of the programme agreed to donate about N2000 (Two Thousand Naira) individually from their October 2012 allowances to alleviate the suffering of victims in Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.

The Head of Media and Communications, Mr Daniel Alabrah, in a statement on Tuesday, said that staffers of the Presidential Amnesty Office have also donated between 20 and 30 per cent of their October allowances to support the efforts of the federal and states government on the flood situation.

Already, the PAP chairman has constituted an 18-member Flood Relief Committee comprising of key stakeholders in the amnesty programme and volunteers. The committee is headed by the Technical Assistant on Reintegration, Mr Larry Pepple.

Kuku commended the amnesty beneficiaries for their selfless and humanitarian gesture.

“This is very commendable as it is a practical demonstration of the African spirit and tradition of being your brother’s keeper in times of distress,” Kuku said.  

He added that the committee will procure the necessary relief materials and liaise with the various states government in ensuring the distribution of the items.

Kuku, who is the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, will also pay courtesy visit to governors of the affected states.

 

DANIEL ALABRAH

HEAD, MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY OFFICE

ABUJA

OCTOBER 16, 2012

Amnesty Office disowns Phase Two leader *Recalls suspended officials*

Abuja, Oct. 9, 2012 (NAN)

 

The Presidential Amnesty Office (PAO) says it will no longer recognise Mr Sylvester Tambo, known as ``Aso Tambo’’, as leader of the Phase Two beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme.

 

This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Mr Daniel Alabrah, the Head of Media and Communications of the Amnesty Office.

The statement said that ``henceforth the office will only recognise and deal with the different state coordinators and representatives of the programme’’.

It said the directive was given by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Kingsley Kuku, following the submission of the report of a seven-man investigation panel.

The office said Kuku, who is also the Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, directed that six officials of the amnesty office in Abuja who were suspended last month, be recalled.

The statement said the officials had been investigated for alleged mismanagement of data and financial impropriety in the Phase Two of the amnesty programme.

``The panel, which was headed by Mr Lawrence Pepple, and had security personnel as members, recommended various sanctions for indicted officials, including forfeiture of two months’ pay as well as refund of monies not properly accounted for.

``It however exonerated Mr Peter Ajube and Mr Kennedy West, saying that they were not members of the Accounts/Data Verification Committee that carried out the data verification of the Phase Two amnesty beneficiaries.

``And they were not indicted by any of the persons who testified before the panel,'' the statement said.

 

It said Kuku commended the panel for properly handling the assignment.

AMNESTY OFFICE RECALLS SUSPENDED OFFICIALS

 

Six officials of the Presidential Amnesty Office in Abuja, who were suspended last month over allegations of mismanagement of data and financial impropriety in the Phase Two of the amnesty programme, have been recalled.

 

This directive was given by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, following the submission of the report of a seven-man investigation panel.

 

The panel, which was headed by Mr Lawrence Pepple and had security personnel as members, recommended various sanctions for indicted officials, including forfeiture of two months’ pay as well as refund of monies not properly accounted for.

 

It however exonerated Mr Peter Ajube and Mr Kennedy West, noting that they “were not members of the Accounts/Data Verification Committee (that carried out the data verification of the Phase Two amnesty beneficiaries) and were not indicted by any of the persons who testified before the panel.”

 

While receiving the report in his office, the PAP chairman thanked the panel for properly handling the assignment even at short notice.

 

He however said the office will longer recognize Mr Sylvester A. Tambo (also known as Aso Tambo) as leader of the Phase Two amnesty beneficiaries and that henceforth it will only recognize and deal with the different state coordinators of the programme.