Abuja—The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd) has dismissed a news report that he declared some ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta region wanted for financial infractions.
Some of the names mentioned in the report include HRM Ateke Michael Tom, Government Ekpemopolo aka Tompolo and The Young Shall Grow.
Others are Pastor Reuben, Boyloaf, Harry Tonye Ikemenjeme, Farah Dagogo, Abraham Ingobere, Comrade Joseph Evah and others.
But in a statement on Wednesday, the Amnesty office described the report as an attempt by mischief makers to create a seemingly none existent rift between the Interim Administrator and the gentlemen mentioned in the report.
According to the statement, “It bears repeating here as always that we do not, as a matter of policy, make a habit of responding to everyone in the public space but we are particularly miffed by this uncharitable clandestine, baseless and caustic story.
“Hence, we are forced to take exception to this standing rule as a result of the weighty narrative already pushed out by some indolent purveyors of falsehood. Having said that it is important that we set the records straight in the interest of peace, harmony and concord.
“We need to restate that the Interim Administrator has an excellent relationship with the ex-militant leaders and efforts to fracture that friendship will end in futility.
“Therefore, the purported declaration is totally incorrect, an abstraction, if you will from the docile faculty of mischief makers because there is no basis to declare anyone wanted.
“Indeed, it is the most obnoxious report ever invented by the sons of mischief to create a seemingly none existent rift between the Interim Administrator and the gentlemen mentioned in the report.
“General Ndiomu as a law officer in the temple of justice will not descend so low as to arrogate unto himself the powers of the law enforcement agencies It is not his place to so do, given the copious provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
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The statement which also added that peddlers of the report have only succeeded in displaying the content of their vacuous minds in the public domain urged the public to discountenance and ignore the said story.
“The said story is a product of the figment of the imagination of con artists whose intent is to cause disaffection and confusion in the region.
“It is necessary at this juncture to reiterate the fact that the Interim Administrator will not be cowed nor intimidated by these charlatans who are uncomfortable and disoriented by the concerted efforts being made to sanitize the system in line with international best practices.
“Instead, General Ndiomu remains resolute, forthright and unwavering in his commitment to the ideals of the amnesty programme. And no amount of campaign of calumny will dwarf his sterling leadership qualities,” the statement reads.
The Amnesty Office also averred that Ndiomu is on the verge of setting a new agenda, a new plausible narrative that fits the temperament of the Niger Delta region.
