Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has commended the ex-militants in the riverine communities of the state for keeping the peace which they embraced two years ago when they voluntarily surrendered their arms.
Akeredolu who spoke while playing host to representatives of youths from Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas of the state said by the resolve of the repentant militants, Ondo State has remained the most peaceful state in the Niger Delta States in the country.
The governor who used the occasion to outline the various efforts of his administration at ensuring that the ex-militants are successfully integrated into the National Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government categorically stated that he will continue to pursue their enlistment into to the programme.
While describing the Amnesty Programme as inalienable rights of the riverine youths, Akeredolu expressed optimism that the several steps so far taken to remind the Federal Government of its promise to include the youths from the State in the amnesty programme will in no distant future achieve the desired goal.
Earlier, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon Donald Ojogo said the meeting was a dream actualised in view of the the fact the repentant militants have for long desired to meet with Governor Akeredolu to express their mind following their non-inclusion into the programme.
While saying that the youths have kept their part of the bargain to keep the peace in the oil-rich communities in the state, Hon Ojogo said the meeting would achieve the way forward in the light of their yet to be incorporated into the the Federal Government Amnesty Programme.