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President Umaru Yar'Adua is on the right track with the amnesty offer, Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, stressed at the weekend, despite the argument of some legal practitioners that pardon can only be granted convicted criminals.
Buoyed by that, Aso Rock said on Sunday that it would continue to negotiate with hesitant militants, including some members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
There is, however, renewed tension in Nembe in Bayelsa State over the killing of a militant leader, Woki, also known as Kitikata, in a shoot-out last Thursday between the Joint Task Force (JTF) and insurgents on the Obioku River.
Kitikata, who hailed from Obioku, initially escaped with injuries along with some surrogates but died later when bullets were being extracted from his body at a hide out in the creeks.
The position of Aso Rock was announced in Abuja by its Spokesman, Olusegun Adeniyi, who said Yar'Adua is delighted with the implementation of the amnesty and the response of militants, some of whom have publicly laid down their arms.
"The disarmament we are talking about is a painstakingly technical process which requires behind-the-scene negotiations that would ultimately lead to ridding Niger-Delta of armed camps so that peace can return for development," Adeniyi explained.
Yar'Adua had at the weekend received MEND factional leader, Ben Victor Ebikabowei, also known as Boyloaf, and 31 others who accepted the olive branch.
"Negotiation is on with the MEND and other militant leaders who are seeking genuine commitment to the development of the Niger Delta which is basically the principal agenda of Yar'Adua," said Adeniyi, who insisted that the deal is not just about paying for arms.
He enthused that "if the negotiation continues the way it is going this whole amnesty process can be tidied up before the 60 days official period.
"(Yar'Adua) is very delighted with the renewed commitment of Niger Delta Governors and leaders, some of whom have made critical interventions in the last one week."
Adeniyi urged the media "not to judge the success of the exercise by the number of arms surrendered or militants who turn up at the collection centres just as I want to make it clear that the Federal Government is not negotiating with groups or individuals who want payment for arms.
"I must commend not only Boyloaf and his comrades who were the first to publicly accept the amnesty, but indeed the entire MEND leadership, who have shown clearly in recent days that it is for peace and development in the Niger Delta."
Kitikata's death in Nembe came after Abuja's amnesty commenced on a shaky note August 6, with militants in Bayelsa yet to surrender their arms at the designated centres in Nembe and Sagbama.
There are indications that Kitikata loyalists may launch a reprisal on the JTF personnel in Obioku.
Kitikata did not embrace the amnesty before he died.
Trouble started for him when he was returning from a "mission" in the locality as he and his subordinates accosted soldiers.
A gun battle ensued for over four hours, during which he was injured.
Kitikata was said to have directed his men to retreat, due to his injuries and asked to be conveyed to a hide out for the bullets in his body to be removed.
But he lost a lot of blood while the bullets were being extracted, resulting in his death .
Prior to Yar'Adua's announcement of the amnesty on June 25, Kitikata had earlier been declared wanted by the JTF for alleged robbery and piracy activities on the Nembe waterways - where he was also accused of involvement in the killing of military personnel about three months ago.
Clark bared his mind in Kiagbodo, Delta State when he was visited by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 5, Julian Okpaleke.
He called for the immediate withdrawal of the JTF, and stressed the "need for proper dialogue between the aggrieved Niger Deltans and the Federal Government.
"The issue of saying that someone must be convicted before amnesty can be granted is literary and not true.
"After the civil war (1967 to 1970) there was a general amnesty to absolve some of the men and women who fought for their rights.
"Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who led the East against the country then, was equally given a Presidential pardon and he even contested the last Presidential election with others in the country."
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Clark maintained that there is need to create an atmosphere where both the Federal Government and Niger Deltans can dialogue on the way forward.
He said people are aware that they have been dehumanised and criminally neglected by the country, something also recognised by the United Nations (UN) which has noted that the Niger Delta is the poorest oil producing region in the world.
"Now that militants have accepted the amnesty package, the (JTF) should be redeployed to enable the police take over their fundamental duties.
"When I see members of the (JTF) in Aladja, Udu, Bomadi, Warri, and other places in the region it reminds me of the civil war. The police should take over their fundamental duties in the creeks and land, while soldiers should go back to the barracks since there is no more war or crisis in the region.
"The presence of the JTF in the region poses threat to militants who are preparing to accept the amnesty deal."
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