Niger Delta
Ex-militant Wants FG To Check Gun-running
An ex-militant, Mr Ibinabo Okoroji, has appealed to the Federal Government and relevant agencies to check gun-running in the Niger Delta.
Okoroji made the appeal in an interview with newsmen at the post-Amnesty Camp in Obubra, Cross River.
He said that although the ex-militants had embraced the amnesty programme of the Federal Government and had submitted their guns, there were people in the region, who were still involved in arms deals.
He said that if nothing was done to check such activity, some youths in the area could be lured into another round of arms struggle and militancy.
“We have submitted our guns but the people that are selling the guns are still there doing the business’’, he said.
The ex-militant disclosed that some youths who were not involved in the amnesty programme were angry, and appealed to relevant authorities to look into the issue with a view to allowing them benefit from the programme.
He explained that many youths in the region were jobless and urged governments at all levels, to come to their rescue.
‘’The government and elders of this country should find solution to the problem of youths unemployment so that many people will have something to do, because an idle man is the devil’s workshop,’’ he said.
Okoroji, tasked traditional rulers and community leaders in the region as well as the “reformed” ex-militants to talk to “some remnants” of the ex-militants, who had yet to drop their guns, to embrace the amnesty programme.
“We should be given the responsibility of talking to these people and make them know that there is a lot to benefit from dropping their arms,” he said.
He said that when he was in the creeks as a militant, he was getting about N170, 000 monthly but was currently earning N65, 000 from the amnesty.
He added: “Though it is not enough, I have resolved not to go back to militancy”.
“I can never go near a gun again. I have left that life after the amnesty. I have dropped the gun but I know that there are still people there who are still holding guns. “There is nothing good in violence. I am saying this, because we have done it before.’ he said.
Okoroji was in the batch 16 of the trainees at the amnesty training camp, from Rivers.
He said that until he came to the camp, he did not believe in the post-amnesty programme or trusted government to deliver on the amnesty promises.
He gave an assurance that those of them who had benefitted from the programme would do everything necessary to ensure its success and appealed to the government to sustain it to ensure peace in the country.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
