A self acclaimed major stakeholder in the Niger Delta region, Jude Tabai has denied claims by the federal government that it is in talks with militants,Vanguard reports.
Tabai, said that he was unaware of any discussion between any militant group and the Federal Government.
Tabai, who led Sports and Youths Development Minister, Solomon Lalong, to a failed peace parley with Niger Delta Avengers lately, said that the government might have discusd with fifth columnists, who were merely keen on reaping pecuniary gains.
He added that there was no credible dialogue currently going on between the government and the real ‘stakeholders’ in the Niger Delta crisis.
Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd.), presidential aide on Niger Delta matters and coordinator of amnesty programme, had last month stated the federal government commenced negotiations with the militants according to News24.
He stated that the talks are organizing through the dialogue committee with a view to halting the lasting hostility and bombing of oil pipelines in the region.
According to him, the Nigerian authorities have no plan to bring in more Niger Delta militants into the amnesty programme, comprising the Niger Delta Avengers.
Boroh who was speaking on a television programme monitored in Abuja said that his mandate was to reintegrate only 30 000 ex-agitators taken in the programme and cannot go beyond the limit to bring in more militants.
