The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, faces an uphill task in his attempt to reposition the interventionist agency, which sparks discontent among former agitators, who have vowed to resist his new moves
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the aegis of Niger Delta Coalition Group, youth leaders, community stakeholders and advocacy groups in the oil rich region have reaffirmed their support for the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Dr. Dennis Otuaro, while describing recent allegations of corruption and mismanagement as baseless, malicious and politically motivated.
The group was reacting to a statement and protest by the Niger Delta Concerned Youths for Change which had urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the activities of the Amnesty Programme under Otuaro’s stewardship.
Speaking at a joint media briefing in Port Harcourt, spokesman of the coalition, Comrade Preye Ebizimor said, “We strongly rejected the reckless, false and unsubstantiated accusations being peddled against Dr. Otuaro by self-seeking actors bent on derailing the renewed progress the Amnesty Programme is recording. The allegations are nothing other than a manifestation of pull-down syndrome by individuals who no longer enjoy the unrestricted access and patronage they were used to in the past.”
The group warned against attempts to politicize the programme, adding that such distractions could jeopardize the fragile peace and undermine years of progress.
“The EFCC is not a tool for political vendettas. If anyone has evidence of wrong doing, the law provides channels for redress – not media trials or populist blackmail. This is not the time to tear down but to build up, we urge the misguided elements behind the attacks to redirect their energy towards production engagement. The future of Niger Delta is bigger than personal grievances,” he added.
The Niger Delta coalition group therefore called on all stakeholders, sons and daughters of the Niger Delta to rally behind the Presidential Amnesty Programme and support Dr. Otuaro’s vision to transform the initiative into a robust platform for youth development, economic inclusion and lasting peace.
But the Niger Delta Concerned Youths for Change disagrees and have asked EFCC to probe into the activities of the Amnesty Programme under Dr. Otuaro’s stewardship, insisting that Otuaro has the worst record since the beginning of the programme in 2009.
They accused him of stopping loans, increase in stipends, running the programme as his own personal estate by using the commission’s money to train his family members and associates.
A former agitator, Dr. Godday Smith, who spoke in defence of Otuaro, condemned protests against PAP Boss, said the agitations are a calculated attempt to sow seed of discord in Niger Delta, describing the allegation as baseless, malicious and a calculated attempt to sow disaffection in the region.
Smith expressed concern over what he termed “cheap blackmail” orchestrated by disgruntled elements and sponsored mischief-makers who do not represent the genuine interests of the Niger Delta people.
He revealed that since his appointment, Otuaro has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the PAP mandate with reforms instituted thus achieved visible strides in the scholarship scheme, prompt payment of stipends as well as training, retraining and reintegration of ex-agitators into meaningful livelihoods.
Describing the move as being orchestrated by individuals, who are not captured in the PAP data-base and therefore have no authority whatsoever to speak on behalf of the programme, the former militant commended the Administrator for restoring the programme’s integrity and aligning it with the original purpose of rehabilitating over 30,000 verified beneficiaries.
He further said that Otuaro has repositioned the programme through administrative excellence, transparency and people oriented engagement which has led to the successful implementation of numerous empowerment and peace building initiatives across the region.
Smith highlighted the reactivation of the presidential Amnesty scholarship scheme the largest single deployment in the programme’s history and sustained stakeholders’ engagement to ensure inclusivity and regional alignment.
The ex-warlord went on to emphasize that PAP is a structured initiative divided into three phases each with organized leadership and camps and urged genuine beneficiaries to direct any concerns through appropriate channels as well as challenged the protesters to identify their camp affiliations and leaders if indeed they were legitimate ex-agitators.
He warned that while the right to free speech is constitutionally guaranteed, the spread of unfounded allegations against public officials would attract legal consequences.
Smith, however, urged the presidency and members of the public to disregard the distractions and continue supporting Otuaro’s transformative leadership at the PAP.