PAP Is A Product Of Ijaw Struggle, Not A Political Office – Ex-Agitators Warns Groups

The National Chairman of the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Forum under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (Phase 3), Gen. Elaye Slaboh, has warned some self-acclaimed members of unknown clans and ethnic groups within the Niger Delta agitating for the appointment of persons from Urhobo extraction as Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

The national chairman, Gen. Slaboh while addressing newsmen in Port-harcourt, Rivers State, issued a stern warning to people carrying such purported publications to desist from such acts, stressing that such actions has the tendency of creating unrest in the Niger Delta region which has been peaceful over the years.

While expressing his concerns and displeasure over the incessant politically motivated agitations, Gen. Slaboh urged the persons behind such agitations to refrain forthwith as it poses a threat to the peaceful nature of the region back to where there will be unrest and ceaseless troubles will be the order of the day.

According to Slaboh; “Let the attention of the Presidency, Senate and House of Representatives including all the Governors in the South-South region, and prestigious institutions such as the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), including political and traditional leaders and elder statesmen in the region be called to the politically motivated agitations.

“The general public is aware of the fact that the Presidential Amnesty Programme was established by the Federal Government in 2009 by Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, in an effort to mitigate the violence that had racked the region since the early 2000s perpetrated by angry Ijaw youths, which the Ijaws should be allowed to be in charge of its administration.

The Former Bayelsa State Chairman of PAP Phase 3, Leader Ebi John, maintained that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is not a federal agency established to be controlled by a constitution that the agency has to follow principles like other federal agencies in terms of appointment on the basis of ethnic zoning.

“It’s fairness to take cognizance of the fact that the presidential amnesty programme is a product of the labor of angry Ijaw youths, who fought to put an end to the marginalization and unequal treatment of the people of the Niger Delta,” he added.

The former chairman stressed that as a matter of fact that is regarded as common knowledge to all Niger Deltans, ninety eight of the ex-agitators are of the Ijaw nationality which guarantees the Ijaws an exclusive privilege to be at the helm of affairs in terms of the management of the programme.

“As a programme designed to create and maintain sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region, other tribes were allowed to be part of the programme as privileged beneficiaries of people from a minor part of the impacted communities to be benefiting from scholarship programmes of the programme.

“But it does not in any way guarantee the beneficiaries any right or privilege to engage in unnecessary agitations trying to turn the programme into a political office, and further trying to untimely defeat the purpose of the establishment of the programme by the federal government in 2009.

“It’s fairness that a person should be allowed to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Even the Holy book opined that, “A worker is deserving of his wages and He who do not work should not eat.” Therefore, the non-Ijaws behind these rapacious agitations should refrain from it forthwith, as such would create more problems in the Niger Delta region.

“We hereby call on the President Bola Tinubu in his magnanimity confirm the Interim Administrator, Maj-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd), as Substantive Coordinator/Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, in order to put an end to all these unnecessary agitations breeding uncertainties in the Niger Delta.

“Maj-General Ndiomu’s administration has brought a lot of transformation in the presidential amnesty programme, which has curtailed the numerous corrupt practices of previous administrations creating an enabling environment for the real beneficiaries of the programme to have access to their supposed benefits and entitlements.

“The introduction of the PACOSOL Loan facility for ex-agitators and beneficiaries is indeed a great step towards bettering and improving the welfare of beneficiaries of the programme, including many other innovative policies of reformations that has made transparency in the formal education unit and its scholarship scheme.

“We the ex-agitators, beneficiaries and statekholders have jointly passed a vote of confidence on Maj-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu, and has unanimously agreed and resolved to give him our total support working towards the attainment of the objectives of the programme in order to enhance sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PAP Phase 3 and an Ex-Agitator, Chief General Inko Brightstar a. k.a WhoKnows Tomorrow, has also called on the Federal Government to review its annual budget for the presidential amnesty programme, and effect an increment as the programme needs adequate funding to carry out expected programmes and projects of the programme.

He noted that seventy five percent of the oil wells and facilities are domiciled in the Ijaw territory, stressing the great need for the federal government to meet the demands of the people of the Niger Delta region.

Gen. Inko West stated that the Ijaw nationality is a strong pillar to the economy of the Nigerian State, and they should be given the exclusive benefit and privilege to coordinate the affairs of the programme which is a fruit of their struggle against inequality and marginalization, adding that any attempt to appoint a non-Ijaw will be resisted by the Ijaws entirely.

“While we wage war against the Nigerian State and some Multinational companies over the injustices done to our region, scores of lives were lost and our lands were destroyed including Kaiama, Olugbobiri,Odioma, Odi, Oporoza, Okerenkoko just to mention a few,” he added.

“We hereby challenge those trying to politicize the presidential amnesty programme to mention just one militant camp outside the Ijaw nationality which is none setting the record straight, they are warned to desist from such acts forthwith, as such acts tends to create chaos into the programme.

The forum warned against any form of ethnic coloration to the affairs of the presidential amnesty programme, which will create unrest in the Niger Delta region, which will cause more harm than good to ex-agitators and beneficiaries of the programme.