Jonathan’s Militancy Story Misleading, Claims Niger Delta Leader

A prominent elder statesman from the Niger Delta has challenged former President Goodluck Jonathan's assertion that his visit to "Camp 1" was the key factor in the success of the presidential amnesty offer to militants.

“

Yes, he played a crucial role towards the deadline of the amnesty offer to the militants, but that role was not instrumental to the success of the amnesty offer.

Wing Commander Peter Biakpara, a retired Air Force officer and former Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs to President Olusegun Obasanjo, stated that while Jonathan played a role, the success of the amnesty was primarily due to the efforts of Niger Delta elders. These elders visited militant leaders in their camps to broker peace before the amnesty deadline.

Biakpara recalled that the Federal Government's amnesty offer was met with widespread skepticism and outright rejection by militant leaders. They felt the government had long neglected the oil-rich region and viewed the offer as a deceptive tactic, leading to continued bombings of oil installations.

“

At that time, our then Vice President was tasked by his principal, the late President Umar Yar’Adua, to persuade Tompolo at Camp 5, not Camp 1, to lay down his arms before the opportunity expired.

He specifically mentioned that Vice President Jonathan was tasked by the late President Umaru Yar'Adua to persuade Tompolo at "Camp 5," not "Camp 1," to lay down arms. Biakpara emphasized that the elders' intervention was crucial in convincing the militants to accept the offer, leading to disarmament and a period of relative peace.

“

We were not excited at all because the federal government had seemingly abandoned the oil-rich region. The militant leaders outrightly rejected the offer with continued bombing of oil installations in the region.