Yenagoa—The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (Rtd) as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The group which described the appointment as commendable insisted that it would have been better if Buhari had made the appointment substantive and immediately also appoint a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with the speed of light as it was done in the PAP.
The IYC through its spokesman, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, in a statement issued in Yenagoa, said though the appointment of Major General Ndiomu is welcomed and well deserving, the people of the Niger Delta would have been happier with the appointment being substantive and the board of the NDDC.
The statement reads in part
“It is extremely sad that since the inception of President Buhari’s administration, the PAP and the NDDC that has a direct bearing on the Niger Delta region have not been given the full capacity to carry out its mandate.
“The Council considers this in bad faith and insists that the NDDC substantive board should be set up to invalidate the impression the Niger Delta region has about Buhari’s government.
“However, Comrade Ekerefe called on the newly appointed interim administrator to shun any divisive calls by known sycophants to derail him on the part of chasing shadows, but focus on building a more positive and proper inter-agency line of communication with the PAP beneficiaries across the region.
“He urged him to pay monthly stipends promptly, and have regular interactive sessions/engagements with stakeholders in the region.
Read also: PAP: Ijaw leaders laud appointment of Gen. Ndiomu as interim boss
“The new administrator should also provide the needed transition that is expected to sustain the existing paradigm shift on the programme in terms of relative peace across the region, change in the mindset of ex-agitators, upward oil production, entrepreneurship and engagements with stakeholders.
“He said managing ex-agitators is the most difficult job that can be given to anybody as available evidences has shown in the past, but with Ndiomu’s experience as an ex-military general and his love for his people, the stability of the program during Dikio’s era will be sustained.
“Consequent upon this, Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtd) has the full assurances and cooperation of the Ijaw Youth Council to achieving his ideas and purpose for the program and region at large, especially, in the areas of peacebuilding, security and development.”
The statement also commended the immediate past coordinator of the PAP Colonel Milland Dikio (Rtd) for introducing
laudable initiatives and his constant visit to the region to have stakeholders engagements endeared him to the people.
The IYC commended him for introducing the Train Employ and Mentor Scheme, (TEM) which has seen the graduation of 349 ex-agitators.
“And more-so, on the recent deployment of over 1,400, ex-agitators who are beneficiaries of the PAP to acquire skills on Aeronautical engineering, Agriculture, Oil & Gas, Maritime, Clean up or Oil Spillages, among others, are footprints of the Col Dikio’s reign.
“No doubt Col Dikio’s passion and commitment to peace in the region was immeasurable. As you all know managing ex-agitators is the most difficult job. As Council, we will continue to wish him well in his future endeavors and pray God to guide and protect him in each of his engagements, ”the group stated.
