I risked my life for Niger Delta peace – Jonathan

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has shared a personal account of entering a militant camp in the Niger Delta without armed security, an act he described as a defining moment in his efforts to stabilize the region.

“

As the vice president, I was to go and negotiate to bring peace to the Niger Delta. And I was to visit all the camps, including Camp One that you all know very well and who headed it, all the boys disturbing all facilities respect those in Camp One,

Jonathan recounted that as Vice President, he was tasked with negotiating peace with militants. Despite objections from security officials, including the Commissioner of Police and the State Director of SSS, he insisted on visiting one of the camps alone, accompanied only by his Chief Security Officer and Aide de Camp, who were ordered to hand over their weapons.

“

As a vice president, I flew to warri, to the water front with my security. When we got to the other front, the Niger Delta militants sent words across to me that they were ready to receive me, but nobody should carry gun and follow me and that if any of my team members carry a weapon, there will be exchange of fire.

This bold move, Jonathan explained, was crucial for building trust with the militants. He stated that the militants had sent word that they would receive him but warned against any armed escort, threatening an exchange of fire if weapons were carried. His willingness to enter the camp unarmed demonstrated his commitment to peace and dialogue, which ultimately contributed to the peace process and the implementation of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme.

“

So, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State said ‘Mr Vice President, you will not go.’ The State Director of SSS said ‘Sir, you will not go.’ I told them I will go. There must be peace and development in the Niger Delta.

Jonathan, whose relationship with the oil industry began in childhood and extended through his career in environmental management, stressed the ongoing need for national priority on the Niger Delta's development. He asserted that achieving lasting peace in the region hinges on effectively addressing environmental degradation and the decades of neglect it has suffered.

“

As the vice president, I said anybody wearing uniform should not follow me to the militants camp, only my CSO and my ADC followed. I ordered CSO and ADC to handover their guns to the Commissioner of Police and state director of State Security Service respectively