We won’t stop ex-militants’ meeting –Presidency

The Presidency on Friday said there was no plan to disrupt a meeting of top ex-Niger Delta militants previously scheduled to hold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Saturday (today).

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, disclosed this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH.

One of the top ex-militants in the Niger Delta, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), had on Thursday called the ex-commanders of militant groups in the oil rich region to an urgent and “crucial” meeting.



There has been apprehension that the meeting could lead to another violent protest in the Niger Delta.

But Adesina told Saturday PUNCH that the government would not stop the meeting because of its respect for the freedom of association.

When asked to comment on the fact that the meeting was convened amidst complaints of perceived neglect of the Niger Delta amnesty programme by the present administration, the presidential spokesperson said he would not pre-empt the meeting.

He said he would make a comment when the meeting comes out with a resolution and he felt he must react to it.

Adesina said, “Let us not pre-empt that meeting. Let it hold because there is freedom of association.

“When they meet and come out with a position, if there is the need to respond, we will do so.

“This is a democracy. We will not stop them.”