THE Federal Government and the Aaron Team put together by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to negotiate crucial issues affecting the region, met yesterday in Abuja, the Federal Capital.

The meeting, at the instance of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, was held in Aso Rock and it reportedly lasted for over two hours.

The President, according to his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, "following his earlier promise to meet with any individuals or groups in that direction", met with chairman of teh group, Admiral Mike Akhigbe (rtd), the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, General Aprezei (rtd), Mr Henry Okah and Mr Farah Dagogo at the Presidential Villa Abuja. Other members of the team at the meeting were: members - Maj.-Gen. Luke Kakadu Aprezi (rtd.); Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Mr. Amagbe Denzel Kentebe, who is the liaison officer between MEND and the Aaron Team. Prof. Sabella Ogbobode Abidde did not attend because of flight problems from the United States where he is based.

Leader of MEND, Henry Okah and Overall Commander of MEND's forces, "General" Farah Dagogo were also in attendance.

President Yar'Adua presided over the meeting. His Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Segun Adeniyi and another senior government official were also present.

According to sources at the Presidency, yesterday's meeting was exploratory and was "highly fruitful". No official statement was expected from both sides to the talks.

But the sources said that the discussants were in high spirits and were, as one of the sources put it, "aware of the grave nature of the national duty they were undertaking and the need to ensure enduring peace in the once volatile Niger Delta region.
[url=http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article01//indexn2_html?pdate=151109&ptitle=NIGER%20DELTA:%20FG%20Succumbs,%20Meets%20With%20%20Aaron%20Team]More[/url]

Good things will come out of this if the FG is sincere.

Okah should not be fooled into physically attending the meeting after his comments on Al-Jazeera lest he's interned by the SS again.

The Aaron team can discuss what they need to discuss without Okah being present.

In all honesty, I think Yara is just buying time here. Theres no sincerity of purpose. The demands of the Aaron team are only slightly different to the recommendations of the Ledum Mitee committee. And Ledum Mittee's proposals have not been given even a second thought by Yar'Adull.

Al-Qaeda lead Nigeria Government knows what awaits them if they refuse listening to Supreme Commander.