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By Amos Odeh, Yenagoa
Amidst mixed feelings expressed by some persons over the seeming silence of newly appointed coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Col. Milland Dixion Dikio (rtd), a Niger Delta ex-militant leader, General Para Ekiye, has called on his colleagues in the Niger Delta struggle to be patient with the new coordinator.
He added that patience is the ability to wait with a good attitude, while still waiting for possible outcomes.
General Ekiye, who is also the current traditional Egbesu High Priest of Esuku Kingdom in Delta State, noted that “though patience may seem to be bitter, but its fruit is sweet”, nothing that judging from Col. Dikio’s background as a seasoned administrator and peace builder throughout his military career, there is hope for the people of the region, particularly the youth.
Ekiye said he was confident that the process of repositioning the Amnesty office, by the new helmsman, started in earnest from the day the pronouncement of the appointment was made, reiterating that the workings of government usually follow due process and that Amnesty Programme could not be an exception.
The ex-militant leader stressed that the appointment of another illustrious Ijaw son as coordinator of the programme could be God’s perfect plan for the people of the region, as according to him, the region was in dire need of human capacity development through empowerment of the youth, particularly the ex-agitators who sacrificed their lives in the days of the militancy in the region, adding that God has perfect timing for everything.
General Ekiye, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja over the weekend, was reacting to some complaints from some quarters which suggested that the new coordinator was yet to make any public statement since his return to the country after his appointment.
He enjoined ex-militant leaders in the region to be cautious of their public utterances, so as not to be misconstrued by miscreants to cause crisis, pointing out that as positive agents of change, the youths should rather deploy their God-given energies to foster sustainable peace in their communities.
“I want to use this medium to advise our youths in the Niger Delta to utilise their tremendous potentials to create and maintain peaceful environment, through peace negotiations and effective participation in community decision-making processes that favour of conflict prevention, management and resolution of possible conflicts.
The third phase ex-militant leader had earlier commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of Col. Milland Dixion Dikio (rtd) as coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, as he pledged to make his contribution towards the success of programme.
“I plead with all beneficiaries to stop the in-fighting over personal interests and rally round the new coordinator to sustain the prevailing peace in the region, as insecurity will only create more challenges to the development of the region,” he said.
