Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum has warned some self-acclaimed members of unknown clans and ethnic groups within the Niger Delta agitating for the appointment of persons from Urhobo extraction as coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The forum’s National Chairman under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (Phase 3), Elaye Slaboh, issued the warning in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He warned those carrying out such purported publications to desist from such acts, stressing that such actions had the tendency of creating unrest in the Niger Delta region which had been peaceful over the years.
Slaboh expressed concerns and displeasure over the incessant politically motivated agitations, and urged the persons behind such agitations to refrain forthwith as it poses a threat to the peaceful nature of the region back to where there will be unrest and ceaseless troubles will be the order of the day.
According to him, “Let the attention of the presidency, Senate and House of Representatives, including all the governors in the South-south region, and prestigious institutions such as the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), including political and traditional leaders and elder statesmen in the region be called to the politically motivated agitations.
“The public is aware of the fact that the Presidential Amnesty Programme was established by the federal government in 2009 by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, in an effort to mitigate the violence that had racked the region since the early 2000s perpetrated by angry Ijaw youths, which the Ijaws should be allowed to be in charge of its administration.”
Also a former Bayelsa State Chairman of PAP Phase 3, Ebi John, maintained that the Presidential Amnesty Programme was not a federal agency established to be controlled by a constitution that the agency has to follow principles like other federal agencies in terms of appointment on the basis of ethnic zoning.
He described the PAP as a product of the labour of angry Ijaw youths, who fought to put an end to the marginalisation and unequal treatment of the people of the Niger Delta.
John added that 98 per cent of the ex-agitators were of the Ijaw nationality which guarantees the Ijaws an exclusive privilege to be at the helm of affairs in terms of the management of the programme.
“We hereby call on the President Bola Tinubu in his magnanimity to confirm the Interim Administrator, Maj-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd), as the substantive coordinator/Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta in order to put an end to all these unnecessary agitations breeding uncertainties in the Niger Delta.
“Ndiomu’s administration has brought a lot of transformation in the presidential amnesty programme, which has curtailed the numerous corrupt practices of previous administrations creating an enabling environment for the real beneficiaries of the programme to have access to their supposed benefits and entitlements.
“The introduction of the PACOSOL loan facility for ex-agitators and beneficiaries is indeed a great step towards bettering and improving the welfare of beneficiaries of the programme, including many other innovative policies of reformations that has made transparency in the formal education unit and its scholarship scheme.
“We the ex-agitators, beneficiaries and stakeholders have jointly passed a vote of confidence on Maj-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu, and have unanimously agreed and resolved to give him our total support working towards the attainment of the objectives of the programme in order to enhance sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region,” he said.
The forum warned against any form of ethnic colouration to the affairs of the presidential amnesty programme, which will create unrest in the Niger Delta region, which will cause more harm than good to ex-agitators and beneficiaries of the programme.
