– says stakeholders behind Otuaro
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Major stakeholders from the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) have described as “mischievous, ill-advised and null and void” calls by some persons seeking the sack of the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro.
The stakeholders led by the foremost former freedom fighter and co-founder of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Chief Ebikabowei Victor-Ben also known as General Boyloaf, said the people of the Niger Delta region are solidly behind the Amnesty Boss and are grateful to President Bola Tinubu for appointing a product of the struggle as the leader of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
Boyloaf, in a statement issued on Wednesday urged the Presidency to shun and disregard those behind the calls for sack, stressing that they do not have the locus standi to make such a call.
“The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established for specific leaders and stakeholders and not for the entire Niger Delta region, rather, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) were both established to carter for the region, ” he said.
Boyloaf noted that it is shocking and distasteful that the faceless people behind the calls for Otuaro’s sack were silent during the tenure of Maj. Gen. Barry Ndiomu (retd.).
“Where were they when the previous administration messed-up and bastardised the Amnesty Programme and where are the billions of naira meant to empower beneficiaries through the Presidential Amnesty Programme Cooperative Society Limited bank accounts?”
“Let me inform those involved and their sponsors that stakeholders in the region have unanimously declared our support for Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro as the substantive Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. He is qualified, competent and most importantly he respects the elders and key stakeholders in the Amnesty Programme.
“This is the time for everyone to move and support the Amnesty Boss to deliver on the Presidential Mandate for the Programme.”