2008:I Told GEJ Of The Militants' Message,Service Chiefs Shouted "No,The VP Won't Go There" —Orubebe,

2008:I Told GEJ Of The Militants' Message,Service Chiefs Shouted "No,The VP Won't Go There" —Orubebe

Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, has recounted a tense episode in 2008 involving then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and efforts to engage Niger Delta militants, highlighting the resistance he faced from top military officials.

In a report published by The Sun on Friday, February 20, 2026, Orubebe described leading a government delegation to the creeks to meet with militant leaders, who had been involved in violent agitation over oil resource control and environmental degradation. According to him, the militants explicitly requested that Vice President Jonathan visit them personally, without security personnel or armed guards, to discuss terms of potential amnesty.

Orubebe said he returned to Abuja and briefed President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Jonathan on the militants’ demands during a high-level meeting with the service chiefs and governors of the nine oil-producing states. He recounted that the military leadership strongly opposed the idea, insisting that Jonathan should not venture into the creeks unaccompanied.

“In Orubebe's words: ‘I told President Yar’Adua and Vice President Goodluck of the militants’ message. All the service chiefs shouted “No! The Vice President is not going there,”’” he said.

Despite the opposition, Jonathan demonstrated personal courage by traveling to the militants’ camp in Gbaramatu to meet them directly. Orubebe credited this step as the turning point that paved the way for the initiation of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, a landmark policy that offered militants unconditional pardon, vocational training, and stipends in exchange for the surrender of arms.

The Amnesty Programme, which was formally launched in 2009, is widely credited with significantly reducing violence in the Niger Delta and improving oil production stability, although challenges have persisted over the years. Analysts argue that Jonathan’s willingness to heed the militants’ request helped build trust and set a precedent for direct engagement in conflict resolution, despite initial resistance from military leadership.

Orubebe’s revelation sheds light on the delicate negotiations and political risks involved in addressing the long-standing grievances of Niger Delta communities, where militant activity had previously disrupted oil operations and posed security threats to both locals and national infrastructure.

The former minister emphasized that the incident highlights the importance of bold leadership and personal involvement in high-stakes conflict situations. He noted that while many advisors and officials were reluctant to support Jonathan’s decision, the outcome ultimately vindicated the approach, bringing a measure of peace to a region long plagued by unrest