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Petition against Ndiomu sponsored by disgruntled contractors, enemies of Niger Delta, says Com’tee

Abuja—The Ex-agitators Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee has debunked claims of an alleged ongoing diversion of funds allocated to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) by its officials led by the Interim Administrator, Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd.).

It will be recalled that a coalition of ex-agitators in a petition addressed to the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and signed by one Boma Inewariku, Gabriel Atumani Victor and James Ebiaredei Collins had accused Ndiomu and some officials of the Amnesty office of diverting the sum of ₦11.8b.

They alleged that the Amnesty boss in connivance with his aides, Mr Ado Dikko, Director Finance and Admin (DFA) and Mr Simone Omachoko, Director of Procurement (DP) and other officials had since September 2022 engaged in acts of aiding and abetting graft in the PAP.

The group further called on the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) to recommend the replacement of Ndiomu to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting to the petition, the Ex-agitators Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Excel Yerindideke Toriomo alleged that the petition is being sponsored by disgruntled contractors and other enemies of the Niger Delta whose stock in trade is to pillage amnesty funds with a view to denting the good image of Ndiomu and obstruct his purposeful leadership drive.

According to the group, “Maj. Gen. Tariye Barry Ndiomu (rtd) the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Program has been working to see how the amnesty program will achieve its goals and objectives.

“The program has failed to yield the intended results due to years of maladministration.

“Since the inception of the amnesty program, some appointees and staff have been conniving with elites to share jobs, scholarships, contracts and other benefits amongst themselves and their loved ones to the detriment of real ex-agitators.

“Some leaders had placed some of their relatives and loyalists to extract information regarding the office and contracts.

“Agreed, Ndiomu was given a directive to wind up the program but he realized that the goals and objectives upon which the amnesty office was established were far from being achieved. Thus he went back with a report to the government of the day for the continuation of the program.”

The group pointed out that Ndiomu has been working hard to see how most of the delegates of the program will be engaged and absorbed into different security agencies and IOCS and for some already trained delegates to be retrained as well as employed by relevant organisations to become more meaningful.

They called on delegates and stakeholders of the amnesty program to stop the endless petitions against Ndiomu but rather channel all complaints to the Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee that has been set up.

“No ex-agitator should allow himself to be used by any individual or interest group that may be trying to cover past shady deals.

“If we, ex-agitators are united then corrupt persons will not victimize or use one camp member to fight the other to achieve their evil agenda. Gone are the days when some ex-agitators will be used to fight other ex-agitators that are perceived as enemies.

“Sadly, Ndiomu is being criticized because the amnesty office bought new official cars for various heads of departments. Assuming but not conceding that he bought new cars for himself and his appointees, it is still standard practice. Nothing is wrong with that in our estimation. But in this case, he did not buy any car for himself.

“We have it in good authority that the propaganda and petitions are being sponsored by illicit contractors and other enemies of the Niger Delta whose stock in trade is to pillage amnesty funds with a view to denting the good image of Ndiomu and obstruct his purposeful leadership drive,” the group said.

The group stated that the Amnesty Programme was not established to fill the bank accounts of those embarking on a campaign of calumny against the PAP boss with stolen funds.

They charged ex-agitators to lodge their complaint to their leaders who will in turn get across to the conflict and resolution committee for prompt resolution of any issue.

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