Edo Phase 3 ex-militants beg Buhari to address alleged marginalization

Former militants in Edo State on the Phase 3 of the amnesty programme have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the coordinator of the Amnesty Programme in the region, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh, to address alleged marginalization in allocation of slots to beneficiaries of the programme in the state.

Addressing journalists in Benin City, the ex-militants who commended Boroh’s appointment, expressed optimism that he would address the anomalies in the amnesty programme, saying: “It is the only way to douse the current tension arising from non-payment of outstanding allowances to the ex-militants.”

Flanked by others such as Samson Funpuwei and Edwin Ojijor, Spokesman of the group,  Abiodun Edah, said several attempts to get the former coordinator of the programme, Kingsley Kuku, to address the anomalies were unsuccessful due to bureaucratic bottle necks.

According to him, “the slot so far made available to the 3rd phase of the programme should be shared equitably devoid of any political coloration.

The amnesty programme of the federal government is the blood testimony of the Niger Delta struggle and must not be targeted to particular people due to their influence. Our people in the 3rd phase Amnesty programme have not been recognized, we did all we could during Kingsley Kuku so that government can address the problem but to no avail.

“We are begging our President to correct this imbalance so as to avoid unnecessary tension in
the region. We believe in President Buhari to do the needful as a man that stands for justice and one who fights for the oppressed”.

Vanguard