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From Isaac Job, Uyo
Youth leaders of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum(PANDEF) have condemned calls by some ex-Niger Delta militants for the removal of the administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme(PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaru.
They expressed displeasure over attempts by former agitators under the aegis of Coalition for Good Governance(CGG) to blackmail Otuaru by linking him to the leaks of classified documents from the PAP Office.
Recall that the CGG headed by an ex-militant, Egbikaboe Ben had called on the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to investigate the leaks of classified documents allegedly by the PAP administrator, Dr. Otuaru.
But the youth leaders of PANDEF said that the information was already publicly available hence the allegation that it was leaked by Dr. Otuaru was aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
In a statement signed by PANDEF youth leaders from the nine Niger Delta states, they pledged their support for the PAP administrator and dismissed as false all the allegations against him.
The statement made available to our correspondent in Uyo was signed by Chief Gen Donben Donyegha(Edo), Chief And Esin(Cross River), Amb. Philip George(Rivers), Victor Phillip (Akwa Ibom) and Sambo Ama(Bayelsa) among others.
It reads in parts, “That we the youths of PANDEF wish to express our great displeasure over the unwarranted blackmail on the Administrator of the presidential Amnesty programme High Chief Dennis Otuaru PhD .
“We strongly condemn the calls for the removal of the Amnesty Administrator. The calls are borne out of bias and animosity by the Coalition for Strategic Governance.
“At the heart of the issue is a document allegedly from former Niger Delta militant Egbikaboe Ben, detailing the prevention of the October 2010 Independence Day attack at Eagles Square.
“However, since this information was already publicly available, we believe that the recent allegations are aimed at tarnishing Dr. Otuaro’s reputation.
“We believe that the appointment of Dr Dennis Otuaru is square peg in square hole and have joined forces to condemn these actions and hereby emphasize the need for stability and effective governance in the Niger Delta region”.
In view of the high cost of living they also requested President Bola Tinubu to increase PAP’s budget to ensure that beneficiaries are properly reintegrated back to the society.
