Former militants from Akwa Ibom State on the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have laid fresh complaints of injustice to the the new administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro .
The injustice include seven months arrears of stipends, no invitation to camp leaders from Akwa Ibom to attend stakeholders meeting with Presidential Advisor and non payment of entitlements to their camp leader, Imoh Okoko, among others.
A statement by the chairman, Imo Okoko in Uyo yesterday, disclosed that the choice of Otuaro as the new PAP administrator was an eloquent testimony to Tinubu’s good intentions for ex-militants and the Niger Delta region as a whole.
The statement read in parts: “We want to state here that Mr. President has made the right choice for the Presidential Amnesty Office and we are sure that you will bring your wealth of experience to sustain and transform the Presidential Amnesty Programme to achieve its aims.
“We also use this opportunity to thank President Bola Tinubu for appointing High Chief (Dr.) Dennis Otuaro as the Presidential Amnesty boss. This shows that Mr. President means well for the Niger Delta people and the ex-agitators.”
They urged the new PAP administrator to reposition the amnesty programme to achieve its original mandate, adding that such engagements would stem the resurgence of youth restiveness in the region.
The statement further read: “We also want to bring to your notice the marginalisation and maltreatment meted against the Akwa Ibom ex-militants by the Presidential Amnesty Office over the years. These include non-payment of seven months stipends arrears to 20 beneficiaries under the Niger Delta Liberation Movement since 2014, despite court judgment mandating the Amnesty Office to pay the beneficiaries.
“Non-payment of leader’s entitlement to Mr. Imoh Okoko, despite passing through leadership training organised by the Presidential Amnesty Office in Calabar in 2014.
“Also, we regret to bring to your notice the sudden stoppage of the stipends payment of 22 members out of 46 members of Ukanafun Freedom Fighters, shortly after commencement of payment by the Presidential Amnesty Office in 2010, despite several efforts made to the office to correct this anomalies.
“We also want to bring to your notice that camp leaders in Akwa Ibom State have not been invited to stakeholders’ meeting by the Presidential Amnesty Office, especially Mr. Okoko, which we believe is a forum where concerns of each group and state are supposed to be addressed.
“It is sad to inform you that none of the Akwa Ibom State beneficiaries has been engaged in educational or vocational training and empowerment since inception of the PAP, despite our plea for consideration of our members for training and empowerment.
“The above are some of the injustices suffered by Akwa Ibom ex-militants under the PAP, and we, therefore, hope and believe that your appointment and assumption of office is divine, and that you would use your good offices to address these injustices and marginalisation of the Akwa Ibom ex-militants.”