Posted by From HENRY CHUKWURAH, Port Harcourt on
The long drawn battle between two of the foremost local cult warlords in the Niger Delta region, Messrs Ateke Tom and archrival Soboma George has ended.
• Vow to end N'Delta crisis
The long drawn battle between two of the foremost local cult warlords in the Niger Delta region, Messrs Ateke Tom and archrival Soboma George has ended.
This followed a peace meeting brokered between the two dreaded men by the leadership of the Niger Delta Non-violent Movement.
Already, Ateke's camp has confirmed the development.
Perhaps, even more heart warming is that the peace accord hatched on Monday in one of Ateke's camps is not aimed at enhancing their deadly onslaught on the region, particularly Rivers State.
Instead, both men who were once in the same camp before things fell apart between them about five years ago have resolved to work in concert to end the tension in the region by applying the check reins on other militants.
Confirming his role in the peace initiative, the President of the Niger Delta Non-violent Movement, Comrade Onengia Erekesima, told Daily Sun that he brought the two warlords together once again and that they have agreed to sheathe their swords and work for peace in the region.
'I reconciled them today (Monday). Now there is peace between them and it is a good omen for our people because they have resolved to work together to ensure that peace returns to this region.
'My advice to government, therefore, is that they should think again on how to use them well, instead of pursuing them."
Comrade Erekesima blamed the dispute between the two men on false tales that former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave huge money to Ateke Tom, thereby creating the impression that Ateke was not carrying the others along. When contacted, Ateke Tom confirmed the peace meeting.