I Risked My Life For Niger Delta” — Jonathan Breaks Silence

Jonathan made the revelation on Monday while delivering the chairman’s address at the De Mangrove Conversation held in Yenagoa. The event was organised in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Renaissance Africa Energy, and the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.

Reflecting on the peace efforts that preceded the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Jonathan said he insisted on personally visiting one of the most influential militant camps despite strong objections from security chiefs, who warned that the trip posed a significant threat to his life.

He explained that before entering the camp, militant leaders instructed that no member of his delegation should carry weapons, warning that the presence of armed security personnel could trigger a confrontation. Although top security officials, including the Delta State Commissioner of Police and the State Director of the State Security Service, advised against the visit, Jonathan said he remained determined to proceed.

According to the former president, he directed every uniformed officer accompanying him to remain behind and ordered his Chief Security Officer and Aide-de-Camp to surrender their firearms before they entered the camp. He noted that only after complying with the militants’ conditions did he and his team proceed into the camp.

Jonathan recalled walking through rows of heavily armed militants before holding discussions that lasted about 90 minutes. He said the meeting marked a turning point in efforts to end hostilities in the Niger Delta and laid the foundation for the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme, which he described as a major milestone in restoring stability to the oil-rich region.

Drawing from his experience as a scientist, governor, vice president and president, Jonathan stressed that the sustainable development of the Niger Delta must remain a national priority. He argued that enduring peace in the region can only be achieved by addressing environmental degradation, underdevelopment and years of neglect that have fuelled unrest over the decades.