Government Canvasses
Support For Amnesty Package
Rafat Salami, Abuja
The
Nigerian government is canvassing for the support of
opposition groups and the media towards the success
of its amnesty initiative to militants in the Niger
Delta area.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Mallam Mahmud Yayale Ahmed made the request while
receiving in audience the executives of the Nigeria
Guild of Editors.
In his words, ’’When President Yar Adua announced
this amnesty, as usual virtually almost all the
opposition said it was not good, even respected
people like Wole Soyinka said no, they were doubting
it.
It is something really good and pioneering a sense
of understanding, the media and the elders and even
the opposition should try and talk on the ways to
improve it, so that in the final analysis we have
what we want.’’
Assurances
Mallam Yayale said that government was committed to
ensuring for sustainable peace in the Niger Delta
area not only because of its economic implications
but also because security of lives was important to
the government.
The Nigerian government had on June 26 declared a
60-day amnesty for militants in the Niger delta area
to lay down their arms.
Vision 2020
The National President, Nigeria Guild of Editors,
Gbenga Adefaye, had in his remarks to the SGF
commended the government for the amnesty and urged
it to sustain the level of commitment it has so far
exhibited in ensuring peace.
He said that the courtesy call to the SGF was a way
of seeking a partnership with government for the
realization of the country’s Vision 2020.
Against this backdrop, the Nigerian Guild of editors
has been invited by the National Planning Commission
to make inputs into the Vision 2020 document.
Qasim/Yinka