As the Federal Government intensifies effort to appease the restive
Niger Delta region to stabilise oil production, President Muhammadu
Buhari has ordered the immediate return of the golden sword seized by
the Nigerian Army last year to Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South Local
Government of Delta State.
The golden sword described as the
symbol of authority of the Gbaramatu, was reportedly confiscated by
soldiers from the 4th Brigade, Benin City, in May last year while
searching for ex-militant leader, Government Ekpomukpolo, alias Tompolo,
in the heat of oil facility bombings in the area. In addition
to the
return of the sword, the Presidency has also resolved to mobilize funds
for the immediate takeoff of the Maritime University of Nigeria, which
has been marred by controversies and lack of funding.
A top
Presidency source told Vanguard that President Buhari ordered the
search, recovery and immediate return of the golden sword which is a
symbol of the ‘Egbesu Shrine’, to Gbaramatu Kingdom with immediate
effect. The official, who pleaded anonymity, said the new move by the
Presidency to appease the Niger Delta was in line with the resolve by
the government to bring about lasting peace to the area and end the
destruction of economic facilities that is currently hurting the nation.
The source confirmed that it was in a bid to appease the Niger
Delta and forge ahead that President Buhari despatched his deputy,
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, to meet with key leaders of the Niger
Delta in recent weeks, even in his absence on vacation and medical
attention. The official described Osinbajo’s ongoing visits to the Niger
Delta as a ‘diplomatic offensive’ aimed at resolving the crisis in the
region.
Vanguard learned that as part of the Niger Delta
rapprochement, the Presidency has also decided to play down on the use
of open military tactics against Niger Delta militants in favour of
dialogue with identified groups, one of them being the Pan Niger Delta
Elders Forum, PANDEF.
The official said: “President Buhari
instructed the Vice President to go and work out details of series of
tours and visits to all the states in the country that have
oil-producing communities and ensure that all interests are brought to
the table, regardless of parties or any other differing factors or
cleavages.
“The meetings also resolved that the Amnesty
Programme which the President had already instructed should be
maintained with even greater budgetary funding and this must be clearly
communicated to the communities by the Vice President during the
meetings.
“Besides, the President also asked the Vice President
to ensure that during the visits, the communities should be made to
understand that the Federal Government is now interested in action and
would do its own part. The Vice President was also asked to secure from
the communities a buy-in of peace and collaboration from state
governments and the oil companies in particular.
“To show his
determination and commitment to create a new understanding and
atmosphere between the government and the communities, the President in
fact, gave an order after the Vice President’s visit to Gbaramatu that
an investigation be conducted to determine what happened during an
alleged military raid of Gbaramatu community where the kingdom’s Golden
Sword was allegedly taken away.
“The presidential order also
directed that a search for the golden sword of the kingdom, allegedly
confisticated, if this is found to be so, should be recovered and once
located, promptly released to the kingdom with an apology.”
It
will be recalled that Chief Government Ekpemupolo had threatened to take
steps to recover the missing golden sword, which is also referred to as
the traditional symbol of authority of Gbaramatu Kingdom.
Source: Vanguard
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