As part of achieving enduring peace in Niger Delta, I voluntarily embraced peace by accepting federal government amnesty programme with my soldiers on 24th February, 2011 and submitted all my barracks high caliber rifles, Rocket propeller Launchers (RPGs) GPMGs, ammunition, dynamites and other dangerous weapons to the Joint Task Force (JTF) at my home town, Gbekebor in Burutu LGA of Delta State, JTF soldiers led by Col. Alechenu on behalf of federal amnesty grogramme.
The chairman of federal amnesty programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku and the National security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi on behalf of federal government at Abuja, assured me during a meeting that my soldiers would be re-integrated into the amnesty rehabilitation programme and pay me a compensation adequately for submitted weapons.
Surprisingly, about two years now; the federal government, it appears deceived me to surrender and collected my weapons without any form of compensation, rehabilitation training of my ex- soldiers.
It is sad to mention that I, General Bounanawei and my dangerous ex-soldiers are begging on the streets for survival after embracing peace in Niger Delta. I have made several appeals and complain, but the amnesty office ignored me because I have been disarmed and federal government felt I am now a toothless dog.
Therefore, I am using this medium to appeal passionately to Mr. President to direct the office of the federal amnesty programme to engage my soldiers who have decided to embrace peace into the amnesty programme immediately and pay all their entitlements as well as compensation of my weapons. The early intervention of Mr. President into this matter will continue to strengthen the existing peace in Delta State of Niger Delta as I have been pushed to the wall by federal government and my patience is losing day by day. I have my records in Niger Delta and I urge federal Government to allow the sleeping dog lie. That is, federal government should not do anything that is capable of truncating the nascent peace in Niger Delta.
For the record, the pains that took us to the creeks in Niger Delta remain unresolved. The amnesty programme is not a catalyst for peace as there is no single sign of development in Niger Delta in terms of tangible projects or infrastructures.
Signed
Col. Pascal, Spokesman to General Godday Smith (a.k.a Bounanawei)
