Yenagoa—The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has thrown its weight behind the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Ndiomu (rtd) in his quest to ‘re-define the operations of the amnesty programme.’
The IYC through its spokesman, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, stated that since the programme commenced over thirteen years ago, it has had some administrative challenges and made some achievements as well.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, Ekerefe insisted that despite the flaws experienced in the amnesty programme, the few months of Ndiomu have seen considerable review and re-engineering of the PAP’s operation which he said has led to the employment and empowerment of genuine beneficiaries of the programme by agencies of government, including the private sector.
Ekerefe commended the ongoing efforts by the new amnesty boss to consult and interact with stakeholders on the review of the programme processes, adding that the gesture will stop the misconception that Ndiomu came to terminate the programme when the mandate of PAP is yet to be completed.
“The 13years journey of the Amnesty Programme is filled with various allegations with thousands of persons feeding fat from the PAP.
“As Ijaw Youths, we are ready to support Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd) in his re-organisation efforts and restore the confidence of the people,” he said.
The IYC president lauded the Amnesty boss for securing a commitment from the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, to commence the employment process of former agitators from the Niger Delta.
He also applauded Ndiomu for taking back the views and reactions from stakeholders of the region during his consultative meetings which he opined convinced the Federal Government to re-think the proposed scrapping of PAP.
He also commended the federal government for abandoning its plan to end the programme, suggesting that the programme be changed into a “Social Stabilization” scheme for the Niger Delta region.
He said, “We commend the federal government for listening to the voice of reasoning while insisting that any attempt to abruptly terminate the programme without fulfilling the mandate of reintegrating those who have completed their studies and vocational training will have a resistance of unimaginable proportion.
“There will be instability in the region which will greatly affect the oil production output of the country as most of the beneficiaries will go back to the creeks to carry arms.
“In the light of the above, we, therefore, advocate for a long-term strategic plan which will be to transition PAP to a Social Stabilization Program for the Niger Delta Region with a clear short, mid, and long-term objectives for the benefit of the people and the continuous sustenance of the relative peace and stability the region since the proclamation of the presidential amnesty by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.”
“But this should be done after a thorough and careful overhaul of the misappropriations and maladministrations that have taken place over the years before such transition should take place in order to avoid the pitfalls of PAP.”
He cautioned those behind the recent campaign of calumny against what he described as the integrity and character of Ndiomu and advised them to “desist from such distractive measures and assassination of character.”
Ekerefe also called on beneficiaries of the programme with genuine complaints to be calm and explore the proper channel of communication with the amnesty office to get their issues resolved, rather than staging a protest, which he said ought to be the last option.
“Ours is to call for calm while appealing to the Interim Administrator to handle the issue of the database which has led to the non payment of certain beneficiaries who allegedly have completed their programs with caution.
“While his reasons may be genuine and cogent to clean up the database to focus on the payment of those still in the program, we, therefore, appeal that it should be done cautiously with proper explanation to the extent that it will not hurt the feelings of those who are yet to be reintegrated into the society after completing their studies or vocational training as enshrined in the mandate of PAP.”
The IYC spokesman also frowned at those involved in the alleged scholarship racketeering amounting to the criminal sale of slots to non-Niger Deltans.
He added that such persons should be investigated and, if found guilty, made to forfeit and return the scholarship to the original beneficiaries from the impacted communities in the region.
According to him, “Sadly to say, we have information that the award of scholarship to students from impacted communities in the region, a major aspect of the PAP that endears it to the people has been put on hold, probably due to the initial plan to scrap the programme.
“This development made the PAP discontinue the important award of scholarship to young brilliant Niger Delta sons and daughters.
“Now that the President in his magnanimity has listened to the advice of the Interim Administrator and the NSA, we advise that the scholarship program be resumed to the benefit of the region.
“We are in no doubt that the Interim Administrator will look into the urgency of this matter which involves the lives of a younger generation of Niger Delta people.”
