Yar'Adua President Umaru Yar'Adua's scheduled visit to Bayelsa state was indefinitely postponed yesterday even as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) vowed to continue its arms  struggle.
MEND described the president's offer of amnesty as bait aimed at destroying the group's agitation for greater autonomy for the oil-rich Niger Delta.

Governor Timipre Sylvia had told our correspondent in a chat that the presidential visit and offer of amnesty would offer a new vista of hope for people of the oil-rich region.
But sources who pleaded anonymity stated that the postponement of the visit may not be unconnected with security situations in the region, especially with recent clashes between the militants and the Joint Task Force (JTF).

It was learnt that the president was advised not to embark on a suicide journey to the area for now, despite the  recent announcement of the unconditional pardon for some militant leaders in the region. 
The postponement was made public few hours after the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro sneaked into Yenagoa  yesterday and left  in the  afternoon without stepping on the state Headquarters of the Police Command .

It was also not clear if the Inspector General was sent to deliver the message.
No reasons were advanced for the postponement of the visit for which unconfirmed sources say about N3billion was budgeted to ensure its success.

When contacted, the state commissioner for information, Chief Asara A. Asara, who confirmed the postponement disclosed that Governor Sylva informed them of the postponement but did not state reasons behind it. No date has been fixed for the next visit but the governor is expected to visit Abuja Sunday to discuss the issue with Mr. President. 
 
“No date yet, the governor will be in Abuja tomorrow (Sunday) to meet with President Yar'Adua before we will know the date and reasons behind the postponement” said  Asara who is also the Chairman Publicity sub-committee of the president's visit.
Okiro had entered Yenagoa yesterday afternoon and the state police headquarters as usual had prepared all formalities to receive him but all the guard of honours mounted for the IG were all in vain as he could not appear.
 Even journalists, who were called to cover the visit and had compiled series of questions including the security situation before the Mr. President's visit, also waited in vain and later left the police headquarters disappointed.

It was however learnt that on Okiro's arrival in Yenagoa, Governor Sylva took him round most projects that were ready for Mr. President to commission, as he was later taken back to Government House Creek Haven for close door discussions before he flew off in a police helicopter.

However, an online press statement from Doifie Ola,the Press Secretary to the Governor, captioned " YAR'ADUA'S STATE VISIT TO BAYELSA RE-SCHEDULED", stated that "This is to inform the general public that due to pressing state matters, His Excellency, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, has reached an understanding with His Excellency, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Ya'Adua to postpone the two-day state visit to Bayelsa State earlier scheduled for 29-30 June, 2009.

A new date for the visit will be announced later. Any inconvenience this postponement may cause is deeply regretted".

In its first reaction to the president's offer of amnesty, MEND's spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, in a statement, said President Umaru Yar'Adua proclamation of amnesty on June 25 was not directed at freedom fighters like members of MEND, but at "criminals."

However, the leader of militants in Ogoniland of Rivers State, Osama Bin Laden, on Friday evening at Yeghe, Gokana Local Government Area of the state, surrendered his arms and ammunition to the Federal Government.

MEND, on the other hand stated that it was not impressed with Laden's arms and ammunition surrender or amnesty terms, saying it was interested in the emancipation of the Niger Delta. The group vowed to continue with its oil war, tagged "Hurricane Piper Alpha."

Gbomo noted that since criminals exist all over Nigeria, it would not be fair to direct "such a magnanimous offer" to their counterparts in the Niger Delta region alone.

The militant group said "From all indications, it (amnesty) is not directed at freedom fighters, which MEND is a part of. The proclamation of amnesty seems to be directed at criminals such as armed robbers, rapists and kidnappers seeking for ransom etc.

"If the proclamation was directed at freedom fighters with a cause, it would have addressed the root issues such as a genuine unconditional release of Henry Okah (a leader of MEND) and others, true federalism, federal character in political appointments, investigations of JTF extra-judicial killings, troop withdrawal time table, displaced civilians, reconstruction of their sacked villages and their rehabilitation."

Also, the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), comprising the enlarged units of MEND, the Reformed Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force and the Martyrs Brigade, in an online statement by its spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, described the amnesty as a ruse, declaring that armed struggle in the Niger Delta would continue.

JRC announced a complete dissociation from President Yar'Adua's amnesty "largesse," though it recognised that it (amnesty) would provide great succour for bandit elements within renegade criminal ranks.

JRC said: "This so-called amnesty is the latest in a series of 'Greek gifts' awarded to the people of the Niger Delta, to enable smooth access to the oil in our communities. Others include the Niger Delta Development Commission (which was designed to fail from the outset) and the Ministry of Niger Delta headquartered in Abuja."

JRC stated that "We see the proclamation of amnesty strictly as an offer of peace. This is because the Niger Delta militants are not criminals, but freedom fighters, who have over the years given their time, money, energy, liberty and lives, towards ensuring that Niger Delta people receive a fair treatment from the oil companies and FG."

The group called on President Yar'Adua to ensure unconditional and immediate release of Henry Okah, to mobilise his group and inspire them to effectively partake in the quest for peace in the Niger Delta.