Ex-Niger Delta Warlord, General Whoknows Tomorrow Wrote’s Open Letter To Amnesty Boss

An Open Letter To The Administrator Of The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dennis Burutu Otuaro (Ph.D)

My name is Chief Comr.Inko Brightstar also known as General Whoknows Tomorrow, a camp leader of the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Phase 3, and double as the National Publicity Secretary.

First and foremost, I wish to commend you for the initiative to meet with few camp leaders under the programme and stakeholders in the region. It is indeed a good step having time to interact with leaders/Stakeholders in order to identify the challenges facing the programme and the way forward to handling such challenges.

However, I have observed some abnormalities which I feel should not be allowed to manifest itself in the PAP both now and in time to come in order to sustain the very essence of the Programme.

Also, some of your plans and visions in office which you disclosed during the meeting in my opinion does not reflect the ideals of the PAP, hence my resolve to offer some voluntary (and not compulsory) opinion in a bid to provide your administration with the necessary support and assistance you need to advance the course of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, being a Stakeholder and product of the struggle.

Administrator sir, let me unequivocally express my displeasure over the manner in which the concluded meetings were organised which had most of the camp leaders shortchanged with non leaders.

It is of essence to note that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is not an agency of the Federal Government created for the development of the Niger Delta Region.

But it was specifically created as an intervention Programme for the purpose of overseeing the welfare of the captured delegates who surrendered arms to the Federal Government, to train, empower and reintegrate them with the society and also for the benefits of the impacted communities, hence the need to stick to the purpose and objective of the program rather than embark on a journey which will at the end of the day defeat the said purpose.

The PAP is a means to an end, it’s ultimate result is to help in the sustainable development of the Niger Delta and not to oversee the affairs of the entire region, there are other agencies of Government that have been saddled with such responsibility.

This is because in the last concluded meeting, one can barely distinguish ex-agitators from stakeholders as 85% of the attendees were IYC members and not amnesty camp leaders.

As the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, you have the responsibility to interact with stakeholders in the region to know issues affecting us and report to the President, but not together with ex-agitators.

The amnesty programme is for camp leaders with their followers (beneficiaries),and should not be made a public office for everyone.

Furthermore, during your interaction you stated your plans to include more persons into the Amnesty Programme.

In as much as doing that may be in the interest of the good people of Niger Delta, the question of feasibility arises as to whether the President will grant fourth Phase Amnesty as that will be the only way to achieve such plan.

It then becomes necessary that you show more concern and concentrate on how to better the life of the 30,000 beneficiaries.

The following are key issues that needs urgent attention:

1: Reinstatement of all delisted beneficiaries (multiple BVN linked accounts inclusive).

2: Increment of stipends/In-Training Allowance (ITA).

3: Third Phase Camp Leadership Verification/recovery of missing slots.

4: Third Phase Leadership Training/Empowerment.

5: Leadership monthly package,so that camp leaders will stop tempering with their followers stipends.

6: Provision of learning gadgets (laptops) for the PAP sponsored students in various institutions.

7: Camp leaders should be given the right to submit names for scholarship/vocational trainings.

8: Yearly Housing Allowance and Christmas packages.

While you reflect on the above, I wish to assure you of my continued support and also pray our good Lord give you the requisite skills and wisdom, and also the right team members to achieve your good intentions for the PAP while in office.

Nua!