The Nigerian High Commissioner in Ghana, H.E. Musiliu O. Obanikro, has called on the security agencies in Ghana to trail the movements and activities of the so-called leaders of the Niger Delta Community in Ghana, as they pose a security threat to both countries. “Their movements and activities should interest our various security agencies before irreparable harm is done to the good relations between Nigeria and Ghana,” he warned. The Nigerian High Commissioner, who addressed a news conference in Accra Monday on the issue of an influx of Niger Deltans into Ghana, described the leaders of the Niger Delta community in Ghana as a bunch of unpatriotic Nigerians, whose modus operandi was to draw cheap publicity to themselves, and engage in a wicked propaganda and blackmail to acquire material gains for their sustenance while outside Nigeria. According to the Commissioner, the Niger Delta Community in Ghana on May 20 this year, through its leadership, presented a proposal seeking the High Commission’s collaboration to hold a post amnesty peace dialogue in Ghana. This, the commissioner said, it viewed as “nonsensical, as the situation in Nigeria then did not warrant holding post-amnesty peace conference outside of Nigeria.” According to him, there was no basis for the present of influx of Niger Delta militants and fighters into Ghana, as the situation in the region was now calm and peaceful. “If anyone of them fled to Ghana during the crisis period, such people are advised to get back home and be part of the re-integration process. Ghana should not be used as safe haven for anybody fleeing the area,” he said. According to the Commissioner, in August 2009, an amnesty programme was initiated for the people in the Niger Delta region, with a budgetary provision of US$1 billion endorsed by President Goodluck Jonathan for the ex-militants. “The government’s commitment to the program is unshaken, and on course. This becomes imperative, in the view of the fact that President Jonathan Goodluck, who took over from late President Yar’dua, was part and parcel of the initiation of the programme,” he noted. Addressing the controversies surrounding the issuance of consular cards by the High Commission in Ghana, the Commissioner said the idea was the brainchild of all the Nigerian Communities in Ghana for easy identification. “Let me put it straight to our people that the Nigerian High Commission consular Card is only a means of identifying Nigerians living in Ghana, and having an estimate of such number. It is not and will never be intended to be used in lieu of Ghana resident permits,” he emphasized. He however, urged all Nigerians living in Ghana to see themselves as foreigners in the country, and abide and respect the laws and regulations of their host. Meanwhile, the leader of the Niger Delta group has told The Chronicle that its leadership would respond to the statement raised by the Commissioner at the press conference. “We thought it would have been appropriate for the High Commission to invite us to discuss the issues at stake, before calling the press conference.” Francis Okporoko, President of the Niger Delta Community in Ghana told The Chronicle. “We assure the people of Ghana again, that we will not constitute any security risk whatsoever in Ghana. And the High Commissioner must be told that we were here long ago before he was appointed to Ghana,” he added. Source: Ghanaian Chronicle/Ghana