GOVERNMENT and some former militant leaders met in Abuja yesterday with a view to ensuring return of lasting peace to the troubled region.

But sources close to the parley told The Guardian that the way the Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd), is threatening the militant leaders may mar the process.

Said one of the sources: "The minister, by his action, may derail the process. Imagine him threatening them that they should not use certain expressions. His actions can make nonsense of the steps taken so far by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's efforts."

Another source also accused government of having a hidden agenda on how it intends to tackle the problems. He stated that it is wrong for government to expect the leaders to accept all it brought to the table without giving the militant leaders time to examine the proposals properly before committing themselves.

Particularly, the President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Dr. Chris Ekiyor, said they were beginning to wonder why they accepted the amnesty.

He told Abbe, Niger Delta Minister, Chief Ufot Ekaette and the committee members that they were equally beginning to ask questions if they have actually taken the right decision.

His words: "We are beginning to ask the question if we actually took the right decision. Those at the helm of affairs already know the problem and we should not be at the planning phase at this time implementing an agenda that must have been proffered since 2007 till date. It has been 30 days since we accepted the amnesty programme, 30 days after the people gathered, including (surrendering of their weapons) and I guess the larger part of Nigeria are beginning to ask: 'What is the government's pre- and post-amnesty plan?'

"We are tired of having these meetings. The way and manner we have been attending meetings, I am aware that from 2007 till date, we have exhausted whatever is needed to be said and we are beginning to wonder why we accepted having this meeting today. Today, you call this group, tomorrow you call another group and nothing is being said.

"We are beginning to ask the question if we actually took the right decision. Those at the helm of affairs already know the problem and we should not be at the planning phase at this time implementing agenda that must have been proffered since 2007 till date. These agenda are the reason why we are here. People are wondering what questions are we going to ask and what answers are you going to receive. So, this question and answer session, my people are wondering what answers you are going to provide. What they want to see is that there are things that can be done now, tomorrow, next tomorrow and two years from now.

"The Niger Delta and Nigerians are asking 'what are those things you are doing now that are doable ones,' because what we see are the same programme of events - planning stage and all what not. I am worried still. This meeting must be done so that we go to the next phase of action of doing things that come out of this meeting."

In his response, Abbe said the meeting was another step in their continuous discussion on the way forward for lasting peace in the Niger Delta and Nigeria.

He told the militant leaders that what President Yar'Adua and Nigeria desire from them now is how to achieve total peace and ensure that the country builds on the successes already achieved by making sure that the peace is sustained.

He said: "President Yar'Adua shows appreciation in the prompt manner you responded. The decision you took to lay down your arms is not in error. The decision will not go unrecognised. For that singular act, you have given Mr. President hope and you have given hope to the rest of Nigerians."

The minister pointed out that it has also demonstrated that Nigeria is able and capable of solving its problem and is coming of age.

He also commended the former militant leaders, especially those who were able to talk to the foreign media, for their positive reactions and responses to the international communities.

Abbe said they were unable to meet since October 1 when they met with President Yar'Adua, and stated that the purpose of the interactive session was to let them know the thought, plans and proposal of the government as they affect the next phase of implementation of the amnesty offer, which has to do with integration and rehabilitation.

"It is to discuss what plan we have and the proposal to elicit from your own position towards the proposal, so that together we can move on," he said.

Between now and November, he said there would be call-up of genuine repentant militants to camp, but he added that because of accommodation problem, the first set to be put together would be 3,000.

He, however, appealed to the former militant leaders to support the move because the call-up would not work effectively without their full participation.